Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

With the characteristic combination of folk tones, acoustic guitars and a singing voice that is both rough and fragile at the same time, MARTIN RUBASHOV paints cinematic sceneries for the listener of being a seeking wanderer in the deep forest of the Swedish forests of Hälsingland. In the distance, the sun falls through the pines that create a warm contrast against the dark trees. The ground is covered with cold muddy moss and the dew lies like unshaded smoke over lingonberry and uprooted trees. You hear the sound of something moving in the dark. Eyes are watching you vigilantly from the crowns of the trees and you can sense something or someone insidious through the light morning fog. The environment is timeless, as a world of your own imagination in a dull future dystopia, with a shimmering streak of hope twined as a golden thread in the dark web.

Stream via major platforms: https://despotz.ffm.to/lightsofjuly
Listen streamed via Ingrooves

Big trees, massive mountains and deep waters are some of the factors that frequently lure Martin Rubashov into the forest. The tangible awareness of being a small part of something bigger helps him to stay close to the feeling of what is truly and authentic. In 2018, Martin Rubashov released his latest album ‘The Nature Script’ that was followed up by the old folk song ‘Hårga’ last year. On December 11th Martin Rubashov release ‘Lights of July‘, the first single of the upcoming album that will be released in 2021. 

‘Lights of July‘ carries a subtle combination between the darkness and mysterious forest in harmony with the light that strikes in between the treetops, where the two hypnotizing voices captivate the listener into the woods. Martin Rubashov tells about the single and the collaboration with Jonas Renkse (Katatonia): “I wrote ‘Lights of July’ a late evening in July this year in my hometown Hälsingland. I was wandering in the woods and it felt like the light was something extraordinary. The song is about playing hide and seek in the midnight sun and there’s nowhere to hide, and how difficult it is to hide nowadays in a world where you’re almost always reachable. The entire planet is exploited and most of it has been discovered. It’s hard to find the perfect hiding place.. I’ve listened to the band Katatonia a lot through the years and has always been impressed by Jonas way of singing. He’s unique in that way and I knew that he had spent some time in Hälsingland at his young age, so I was very happy and honored when he told me that he wanted to sing with me in this song.”

Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) tells about the collaboration: “Happy to be featured on ”Lights of July”. When Martin asked me to be part and presented the song to me, I thought it had a very special vibe to it. Mellow, mysterious and fleeting. Just like the Swedish summer“. // Jonas Renkse

The upcoming album will be acoustic and dream-like with the sounds of nature weaved into the soundscape. Martin describes the music as “the feeling of landing on a cold but inspiring and encouraging world, inside a warm pine forest.” He continues “I’ll use my twelve stringed guitar a lot more and I have written the majority of the material, I still haven’t left the forest and I’ll stay here when it comes to my music. I want to widen my view more. Wander deeper into the forest. Build sounds to connect the songs and record more of nature to tie into the lyrics that take place here.”