Litvintroll - The Bald Sparrow

Litvintroll was founded in 2005 in Minsk, Belarus as a folk band performing traditional Belarusian music with modern arrangements and employing traditional instruments. Since the foundation, the band took part in a large number of folk music festivals across Belarus. In 2007, Litvintroll evolved into a metal band, while still following the folk traditions of the previous years, where ancient instruments played a leading part in their music.

In 2009, Litvintroll released the album entitled Rock’n’Troll. The release met with some success at home and received positive feedback from fans abroad. Rock’n’Troll covered a broad range of styles: from rock’n’roll to death metal, wrapped in the sound of traditional instruments. On that album, Litvintroll added a fresh, modern sound to ancient folk songs and a folk sound, to their own compositions.

During Rock’n’Troll tour the band performed at many festivals in Belarus and abroad. Among these were Menuo Judaragis and Kilkim Zaibu in Lithuania, The Days of Belarusian Culture in Poland, Viru Folk in Estonia, Northern Lights Festival in Austria, Black Troll Festival in Germany, Be Free in Ukraine, and more.

After a prolonged tour the band began recording a new album, called Czornaja Panna. It is a name of ghost of Nyasvizh castle, the spirit of the late Barbara Radziwill, who became the wife of King Sigismund II Augustus, was poisoned by her mother in law. The King did not put up with the death of the beloved and summoned her spirit, but the ritual was not performed correctly, that brought down a curse on him and all his family, and the spirit of Barbara remained forever locked in an old castle

New album sounds heavier than the previous one, with the influence of doom. The release was scheduled for the autumn of 2012, but this was not to happen.

On September 2, 2012, just days before the album was finished, tragedy struck. During a show in Homel, Belarus, bass player Aleh Klimchanka died from electric shock on stage.

Depressed by the incident, the musicians were about to discontinue the band, but six months later, they decided to resume activities. The album Czornaja Panna was released by the label Sound Age Productions April 15, 2013. It is dedicated to Aleh Klimchanka.
