Slovakian post black metal act, Besna, return with the emotive standalone track, Neha a sullen seven-minute track characteristic of the band's heaviness. The song is dedicated to the memory of Juraj Vankulič and Matúš Horváth who were murdered on October 12th, 2022 in front of the LGBTI+ friendly bar Tepláre in Bratislava, Slovakia, a hate crime committed by a young, local, far-right terrorist. The perpetrator was discovered dead the morning after the strike and had left a manifesto with anti-Semitic, homophobic, and transphobic views.
The release of the single is part of the Slovenská Tepláreň, a collaborative movement of artists, venues, and other subjects in response to the aforementioned terrorist act. They reveal in a statement:
"We want to express our solidarity with the families and loved ones of Matúš and Juraj, who were murdered out of hatred in the Tepláreň bar in Bratislava.
We want to express our respect and honor those who made Tepláreň an open place for free people to meet.
We want to show support for LGBTI+ people.
We want Slovakia to be a country where everyone can feel safe and where belonging to any minority is accepted with respect as a natural part of society.
We want to change the legislation so that it ensures a full-fledged life for all people in Slovakia, including the LGBTI+ minority."
Musically, the song, whose title translates to 'Affection,' craftily contrasts weightiness and fragility, and its lyrical astuteness is an extraordinarily powerful component of it.
Besna Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram
ZR