With support from ArtPower Belarus, the Belarusian band Irdorath recorded Bestiarium, an album sung entirely in Belarusian. Rooted in pagan folk, the project draws inspiration from Belarusian mythology, legends and folklore.
The album features ten tracks and one bonus track, created with seven musicians from four countries. Through music and mythological narratives, the band explores humanity, loss, resilience and the search for identity in difficult circumstances. Some of the material was written while band members were imprisoned. The album later took on a new sound and was completed by a renewed line-up in exile.
An accompanying art book in Belarusian and English includes lyrics, illustrations, legends, cultural context and commentary from the band. Through tragic, ironic and philosophical tales, it brings mythological characters to life and makes Belarusian cultural heritage accessible to listeners and readers who do not speak the language.
