Band Biographies: From The Vastland

From The Vastland is a black metal band which started out by Sina In late 2010 in Iran but it became a full members band later when he moved to Norway in 2013 and started to work with known Norwegian musicians such as Vyl (Whoredome Rife, ex-Keep of Kalessin, Gorgoroth), Tjalve (Horizon Ablaze, Svartelder, ex-1349, Den Saakaldte), Spektre (Gaahls Wyrd, Svartelder, Horizon Ablaze) and Destruchtor (Nordjevel, Myrkskog, ex-Morbid Angel). Music and lyrics of the band are influenced by Persian history and mythology, ancient world, epic stories of good and evil, myths and legends combined with atmospheric, blast-beating, old school black metal with a slight touch of oriental influences. In 2014 From The Vastland was nominated for Global Metal Band at Metal Hammer Golden Gods award. Sina and the band is also featured in the Norwegian doumentary film about black metal "Blackhearts". "The Haft Khan" is a new concept album based on one of the stories from the great epic masterpiece poem, the most notable piece of Persian literature, "Shahnameh" (The Book of Kings - One of the world's longest epic poems) which was written by the Persian poet, the world known "Ferdowsi" between c. 977 and 1010 CE. “The Haft Khan” story, narrates seven difficult challenges of a national hero, the greatest of the Persian heroes, called Rostam on his journey by his legendary horse “Rakhsh” towards the land of Mazandaran, to save and free the king "Kei Kavus" and his army who have been captured and blinded by spell of the White Demon. In the story, Rostam passes seven stages and fights against natural difficulties, fierce animals, demons and at the end, the white demon. Finally, by dropping the blood of the white demon's heart in the eyes of Kei Kavus (the king) and his army, sight returns to their eyes again. The story of "The Haft Khan” is full of metaphors and symbols and represents some of the most important characters, legends and myths in the ancient Persian mythology and history.

The old school black metalers, From The Vastland, mark 2020 with their highly anticipated seventh release, "The Haft Khan" (a conceptual sixth full-length album). It's a milestone in the history of the band, a new chapter, being not only a concept album but also it's based on one of the greatest stories from the epic masterpiece poem, the most notable piece of Persian literature, "Shahnameh" (The Book of Kings - One of the world's longest epic poems). Sina strongly believed this album should be something special as it's going to tell a very special story. So, finally after 2 years of precision work everyday, he unleashes his new beast and here we have "The Haft Khan". This album is a burning fire, wild and monstrous, dark and mysterious but at the same time a deeply emotional. Blast-beating Norwegian old school black metal with a slight touch of oriental influences. It's a very mature album. The Haft Khan will take you for a dark journey through an ancient history to show you how to deal with the darkest of demons. It will soak you into its dark soul like a black hole! Strongly recommended for the fans of Marduk, Gorgoroth, 1349, Immortal, Belenos. Paintings for the front cover by Kjell Åge Meland.