Slovak post-black/progressive metal band Besna return with their second full-length album »Krásno«

Bratislava, Slovakia based post-black/progressive metal band Besna is back with their second full-length album, »Krásno«, which was just released on January 16th, 2025.

Listen to »Krásno« on Spotify, YouTube and other streaming platforms!

Tracklist:
01. Zmráka sa
02. Krásno (feat. Jakub Tirčo)
03. Hranice
04. Oceán prachu
05. Bezhviezdna obloha
06. Paracelsus
07. Mesto spí (feat. Solipsism)

Besna is a post-black metal band from Bratislava, Slovakia founded in 2017. Their musical style blends contemporary metal with elements of black metal, progressive, and post-rock, with the occasional nod towards Slovak folklore. Recognizable for their melancholic melodies and powerful screams in their native language, their live shows exude compelling energy and create a captivating atmosphere.

Presently, the band is showcasing their independently released debut album, »Zverstvá«, which was awarded the Radio_Head Award, a Slovak national alternative music academy award, as the best Hard & Heavy record of the year 2022. They are also actively performing their subsequent single, Neha, on stages throughout Europe.

In 2023, Besna collaborated with Lunatic Gods on the song »Vresovrenie«, showcasing their versatility in the metal genre. As for the future, the band is currently actively engaged in the creative process, writing new material in 2024. As part of their summer performances, they introduced some of these new compositions, providing audiences with a glimpse into their continually evolving and dynamic musical journey.

Photo by Veronika Klimonová

The second long play album »Krásno« [Beauty] by Slovak post-black metal band Besna explores themes of societal stagnation, personal isolation, ecological collapse, and the search for meaning in an unjust world. Through seven intense tracks, it critiques the passive acceptance of authority, the cyclical nature of cynicism, and the desire for self-expression amidst a declining culture and ongoing war. Drawing from mythological references (the song »Bezhviezdna obloha« [Starless Sky]) and historical events (the song »Hranice« [Pyres], which reflects on the self-immolation of Jan Palach and the deaths of people fleeing across the borders of communist Czechoslovakia), »Krásno« highlights the closing off to foreign ideas and lives, urging listeners to fight apathy and despair. The album serves as a powerful reflection on human resilience and a call for cultural and societal renewal.

Order »Krásno« here:
besna.bandcamp.com/album/kr-sno

Music and lyrics composed by Besna.
Guitar solo on track 2 composed and performed by Jakub Tirčo.
Keys and additional vocals on track 7 composed and performed by Tomáš Beňuška (Solipsism).

Recording & mixing: Jakub Hríbik
Assistant engineer: Jakub Spiszak
Editing: Jakub Tirčo
Mastering: Alexandr Vatagin
Artwork: Andrej Eternal
Design: Jiří Horák
Logo: Maxim Ishutin

Besna is:
Martin Pinter – Guitar
Samuel Dudlák – Guitar, Vocals
Anton Samokhvalov – Drums
Timotej Jurášek – Bass

Special thanks to Kamil Adamík.

Supported by public funding from the Slovak Arts Council.

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well