Vitja was a German

metalcore Metalcore (also known as metallic hardcore) is a fusion music genre that combines elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. As with other styles blending metal and hardcore, such as crust punk and grindcore, metalcore is noted for its use of ...

band with members from Münster and Cologne, formed in 2013. Vitja is Russian for Viktor, which means winner, but according to the band, the sound and aesthetics of the word were key to the naming. The band later disbanded in 2022.

Biography

The group was formed in 2013 by former musicians from the bands ''Disposed to Mirth'', ''Shake the Pagoda Tree'', ''Progress Utopia'' and ''Myterror''. The group quickly got a recording contract with

Redfield Records Redfield Records is a German independent label founded in Haan-Gruiten near Düsseldorf in 2001 and now residing in Melle near Osnabrück. In February 2013 the label founded their subsidiary under the name Redfield Digital which distribute only di ...

, which resulted in the debut album ''Echoes'' was released. Vitja played in August 2013 as a substitute for

Silent Screams Silent Screams are an English metalcore band formed in Coventry, West Midlands, England, in 2007. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Joel Heywood, guitarists Ozzi Osman and Sam Varney and drummer Adam Mallabone and bass-player and v ...

on the ''For Those About to Mosh Tour'' with Martyr Defiled. In July and August 2014, Vitja toured several places in Europe supporting Texas in July and Iwrestledabearonce. In February and March 2015 the band played a German tour supporting Annisokay and Callejon. The band has been confirmed for Summer Breeze and Vainstream in summer 2015. On 6 February 2015, the group's first EP, ''Your Kingdom'', was released via Redfield Records. In 2017 they supported Emil Bulls on their tour. In the same year her album ''Digital love'' was released, which represented a change in style towards more melodic Metalcore with a higher proportion of clear vocals. The following year Vitja's next album ''Mistaken'' was released. However, very shortly after the release, the band canceled their planned "Mistaken" tour and kept quiet about the reasons for several months until May 2019 when a new singer was presented with the release of the latest single "Back". Singer David Beule, founding member of the band, had been replaced by Gabriel Spigolon, who like him performs the metal band's

guttural vocals A death growl, or simply growl, is an extended vocal technique usually employed in extreme styles of music, particularly in death metal and other extreme subgenres of heavy metal music. Death growl vocals are sometimes criticized for their ...

. The band finally broke up in April 2022. The main reason given is the lack of a common basis after many years of change.

Musical style

The interviewer at ''Dearly Demented'' attributed the group to the metalcore scene, but also to the djent scene. Andreas Kuhlmann of the ''

Ox-Fanzine ''Ox-Fanzine'' is a monthly punk zine from Solingen, Germany, founded in 1988. It is edited by Joachim Hiller and has had many contributors. Besides its focus on punk subculture, it also covers similar genres, reviews of comics, books and films, ...

'' describes the music as comparable to Veil of Maya and Volumes. ''

Rock Hard "Rock Hard" is a single by the Beastie Boys, released by Def Jam Records on 12" in 1984. The track contains samples from the AC/DC song "Back in Black", which was used without obtaining legal permission, causing the record to be withdraw ...

'' magazine's Volkmar Weber describes Vitja as one of many "Metalcore/Djent hybrids".Volkmar Weber: ''

''
Vitja – ''Echoes'' review
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Discography

* 2013: ''Echoes'' (album,

) * 2015: ''Your Kingdom'' (EP, Redfield Records) * 2017: ''Digital Love'' (LP,

Century Media Records Century Media Records is a heavy metal record label with offices in the United States, Germany and London. In August 2015, Century Media was acquired by Sony Music for US$17 million. Background Century Media was founded by Robert Kampf and Oli ...

) * 2018: ''Mistaken'' (LP, Century Media Records) * 2019: ''Thirst'' (LP, Arising Empire)

References

External links

{{Commons category
Vitja
at Facebook
Vitja
at

German metalcore musical groups Arising Empire artists Musical groups established in 2013 2013 establishments in Germany