Zău is the official title of a brand new and last album from Romanian metal legends Negură Bunget (disbanded in 2017), ready to be released on November 12 as Digi CD, CD/DVD artbook and on vinyl. The final part of the “Transylvanian trilogy” was hanging by a thread when creative mastermind Gabriel “Negru” Mafa died on March 21, 2017 – yet his drum tracks had already been recorded before the band’s final tour. All the sketches, demos, and rehearsal room recordings that they had been working on were gathered, and each member respectfully filled in the gaps in utter dedication to the original idea. Listen to the 16-minute long opening track, “Brad”, via YouTube below.
Official statement as follows:
“When the creative mastermind and driving force behind Negură Bunget, drummer Gabriel “Negru” Mafa suffered a terminal heart-attack on March 21, 2017 is tragic passing seemed to dictate that his grand vision of a metal-anchored musical interpretation of Romania’s beautiful landscapes, traditions, and myths as well as his homeland’s spiritually was doomed to remain as unfinished as Beethoven’s 10th symphony.
Yet the veteran musicians that had been with Negru in the final incarnation of Negură Bunget’s ever-changing line-up were not prepared to give up let his vision slip into unheard obscurity. By sheer luck, Negru’s drum tracks for Zău had already been laid down and recorded before the band’s final tour. All the sketches, demos, and rehearsal room recordings that they had been working on were painstakingly gathered, and each band member respectfully filled in the gaps in the same way as they would have done with the remaining co-founder of Negură Bunget still alive; in utter dedication to the original idea.
The result of this labour of love is Zău, the stunning culmination and climax of Negură Bunget’s musical evolution and the “Transylvanian trilogy”. On this album, the traditions of black and dark pagan metal have been completely fused with elements from Romania’s rich musical heritage. Rich textures and epic cinematic passages make way for fragile and tranquil moments to be superseded by furious outbreaks. Just like the ever changing nature of Romania’s Banat and Transylvania, Zău captures the colours and moods of the turn of the seasons in these lands and brings ancient legends to live.”
