The decision to form ZGARD was taken by Yaromisl in autumn 2010. At this time, he was finishing the recording of Goverla’s second album, which, due to various reasons, he decided to release under a new name. The quest for a name wasn’t long: ZGARD is a synonym for “amulet” in the culture of Huzuls, an ethno-cultural group who for centuries have inhabited the Carpathian mountains. Yaromisl wears such zgard from the time he obtained one in the Carpathian highlands and until now.
The ZGARD debut album, “The Spirit of Carpathian Sunsets,” was intended to be released in 2011, but the release date eventually shifted to 2012. In recording this album, Goverla’s flutist Hutsul took part, who recorded parts of woodwind instruments. The album includes not only the songs written for Goverla, but also a new track which gave a title to the album and formed a concept and the style of ZGARD: atmospheric black metal with strong influence from Carpathian folklore and a pagan outlook.
Without wasting any time, Yaromisl worked on the next songs for a second album, “Reclusion,” which was released in January 2012, even earlier than the debut. In 2013, the third opus, “Astral Glow,” was released, but activities didn't slow down: ZGARD took part in a split CD, “Ascension: Paramatman,” with Romanian band PROHOD, which was released in February 2014. Work then began on a new album.
The landmark year for ZGARD was 2014 when Yaromisl decided to shift from synthetic to live-recorded drums. With a guest drummer and vocalist the album “Contemplation” was released in June 2014. Right after the release, Yaromisl started to work on a new opus “Totem” dedicated to Veles, and ancient Slavonic god of sorcerers, which was successfully released in 2015. Two years later the newest work “Within The Swirl Of Black Vigor” was finished and release is scheduled on October 21, 2017 by Svarga Music.
ZGARD is truly a remarkable phenomenon in the Ukrainian metal scene. Geographically located far from Ukraine’s music centres, like Kharkov and Kiev, Yaromisl managed to create his own unique style. Is it the nature of the Carpathians, or residence near the mountain Bogit, where was located a Zbruch Idol (9th-century Svetovid sculpture and one of very few monuments of pre-Christian Slavic beliefs), which so influenced Yaromisl to create the music of ZGARD? Either way, the result speaks for itself!
