Helle Bogdanova
Ольга Ігорівна Богданова
Fronting my favorite Ukrainian metal act, Helle is an enigma. Her duality of serene singing and earthy growls had me sold from the first time I heard Ignea – their 2018 single “Queen Dies” merged Eastern folk instrumentation with progressive, melodic death metal.
More recently, the Kyiv-based vocalist intertwined the tales of international photographer / journalist Sofia Yablonska into the group’s must-listen record Dreams of Lands Unseen. Not only do Helle’s vocals stab heart-deep, but her aesthetic vision is absolutely a cornerstone to Ignea. With iconic looks cast across the act’s video catalog, Helle has brought a striking visual component to the band, particularly the feral performance on “Disenchantment” and winged maiden outfit in “Magura’s Last Kiss.”
Helle Bogdanova’s melodic dagger has also been found tracing cuts across the likes of Brazilian-Polish symphonic death metallers Itself and Ersedu of Ukraine.
Lena Elfi
There’s no movement right now more powerful than the modern wave of hardcore-metalcore fusion. Lena Elfi is the voice behind 0%Mercury, evoking the chaotic energy of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ithaca, or early Paramore.
Her vocal prowess carries Knocked Loose ferocity on their Stump EP, yet has matured to include eerie Poppy earworm qualities on latest release – We Should Definitely Do This!
Considering the current climate of the metal scene, this Vinnytsia-based project is bound to blow up, especially thanks to their recent collaborations with Johnny Booth, Sick Solution, and hackedface. Lena’s savage and alluring duality can be shown in the band’s distinct music videos. I can’t wait for 0%Mercury to make their way across the seas.
Tatiana Shmayluk
Тетяна Шмайлюк
Easily the most globally known metal act hailing from Ukraine, Jinjer has captivated mainsteam audiences and metalheads with their severely dynamic hits ranging from the “Pisces” ballad to progressive head-turner “Teacher, Teacher.”
Clearly, the group wouldn’t have reached their lofty heights without the vocal range and lyrical vulnerability of Tatiana Shmayluk. Her fierce personality and stage presence has captivated audiences across the seas, and even aligned a couple collaborations with Polish death-groove band Decapitated.
As Tatiana continues to keep the progcore energy flowing with high energy on the new single “Someone’s Daughter,” we look forward to the inevitable killer album.
Aleksandra Babiy
Олександра / Александра Бабий
As if there was a meeting of minds between Gojira and Zeal & Ardor, Aleksandra fuses prog, groove, and blackened alternative metal for the Kyiv duo project Azathoth Circle.
Purging emotion and Lovecraftian themes, her vocals are utterly tantalizing. It’s been a few years since their far-reaching Siavo record, leaning further into their Eastern European roots; one can only hope we hear more from Aleksandra’s stellar, untouchable vocal delivery and this severely underrated act soon.