Belarus, now based in Poland, post-black metal/pagan metal band Dymna Lotva, who are right now on their ongoing European Blood Fall Tour 2024, released a digital single and video clip for the new non-album track "For Those Who Are Gone" (Адышоўшым). This stirring lament mourns the Belarus victims of a Soviet massacre committed on 29 October 1937 on the occasion of its anniversary.

Vocalist/lyricist Katsiaryna "Nokt Aeon" Mankevich explains: "Our new digital single 'For Those Who Are Gone' is probably the least harsh song that we wrote to date, but the history behind this song is brutal. On the night of the 29th of October 1937, the Soviet regime murdered over 140 Belarusian cultural and public figures. Among them were 22 poets and writers. In Belarus, this massacre is called 'The Night of the Executed Poets' or just 'The Black Night'. The exiles of the Belarusian diaspora around the world gather on this date to remember the victims of this Soviet crime. In Belarus itself such gatherings are now dangerous to hold. This single is not supposed to become an part of any future album. We just feel that we should release it right now."

This song is dedicated to all who were murdered in 'The Night of Executed Poets'. Dymna Lotva has many reasons to carry the torch of rebellion. The duo had to flee their native Belarus due to political persecution and attempts by the Lukashenka dictatorship to censure and suppress their art. On their third album, The Land Under The Black Wings: Blood (original, not transcribed tile: "Зямля Пад Чорнымі Крыламі: Кроў"), released in 2023 by Prophecy Productions, Dymna Lotva continues to sing songs filled with grief and pain. 

If you want to know more about Dymna Lotva, we recently published an interview with the band over HERE. Dymna Lotva also filmed its complete show at this year's Metal Mine Festival at the Stara Kopalnia Science and Art Center, Wałbrzych, Poland, and you can check it out over HERE. Link