Kyiv band First to Die formed in 2023 with vocalist/songwriter Viktor Brazhnykov and original bassist Pavlo; the band initially leaned into grindcore, drawing on Nails, Full of Hell, and Weekend Nachos. Since then, they’ve played more than 50 shows and gradually shifted toward a metallic hardcore sound with heavier breakdowns and more deathcore influence.
Brazhnykov now handles all instrumental writing, opening the door to newer influences like No Cure, Pain of Truth, and Missing Link.
That progression is evident on “Mavpa,” the first single from First to Die’s upcoming EP. Recorded partly at Seven Monkeys studio in Kyiv and partly at home, the track was mixed by Andy Nelson at Bricktop Recording using money the band saved from touring.
“Mavpa” means “monkey” in Ukrainian, and Brazhnykov says the song is about what happens when anger takes over. “The image of a dumb gorilla wanting to swear and smash through a wall headfirst is how I see myself in that state,” he tells me.
For First to Die, keeping the band active also means working around the realities of the ongoing war. Brazhnykov is currently serving in the Ukrainian military, while others in the local scene are balancing music with similarly difficult circumstances. “We have to build and sustain the scene ourselves,” he says. “When international bands start coming here again, we want to have a strong scene ready to welcome them.”
He recommends Boanthropy, Grunt Palaie (Ґрунт Палає), Dilo Drian (Діло Дрянь), and Sick Solution for anyone looking to dig deeper into Ukrainian hardcore.
First to Die are heading out on a nine-date Ukrainian tour this month, including three shows with Sick Solution, with more songs from the upcoming EP set to follow “Mavpa.”
“Being able to release these songs and get back onstage means a lot to me,” Brazhnykov says. “We’re putting the work into keeping the band moving.”
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First to Die on social media: Instagram
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