Tzarina

For singer/guitarist Craig William, drawing lyrical and musical inspiration from old Russian tales and folklore was merely a vehicle for getting to the heart of something much more personal. A collection of music that had been weighing on him artistically finally found its path in 2020.


Using melodic textures along a post-hardcore palette for exploring feelings of isolation and contempt, Tzarina’s music is as haunting as it is hard-hitting. Eerie verse melodies and huge driving, even triumphant choruses embody Tzarina’s heavy sound. The poetic and story-driven lyrics are juxtaposed with tapestries of guitar-laden, melodic texture but not at all bereft of the band’s proficient technicality


The catalyst for the line up came about when Craig (formerly of Wayward City) connected with Mark Ayesh and Michael Forsyth (formerly of Vertigo Drift) as their other projects slowed. Upon discovering Robert Abrams amidst the NYC musician circuit, the band hit the ground running until Covid-19 plagued NYC in March 2020. As luck would have it, this was neither a deterrent nor a decelerator for Tzarina. Everything is in the timing, and Tzarina doubled down by committing to socially distanced studio work right as quarantine became the way of life.


Partnering with producer/engineer Nick Bellmore (Hatebreed, Toxic Holocaust, Kings and Liars, Dee Snider), Craig and crew poured it all into a record that’s teeming with fervor. Between October 2020 and present day, the band has since released a handful of singles steadily coordinated towards the release of the full LP in early 2022.