Mizar (band)

Mizar Мизар
Origin	Skopje, Macedonia
Genres	Dark folk, avant-garde, dark wave
Years active	1981-1983 1985-1991 2003-present
Labels	Helidon Avalon
Associated acts	Padot na Vizantija Arhangel Badmingtons Anastasia
Members	Gorazd Čapovski Zoran Origjanski Pece Kitanovski Jana Burčeska
Past members	Goran Trajkoski Risto Vrtev Boris Georgiev Valentin Zabjakin Panta Džambazoski Goran Tanevski Katerina Veljanovska Eleonora Stojanović Slobodan Stojkov Ilija Stojanovski Sašo Krstevski Vencislav Smakjoski Žarko Serafimovski Vlatko Kaevski Harmosini, (male byzantine choir)

Mizar (Macedonian: Мизар [miˈzar]) is a Macedonian rock band from Skopje. They achieved a status of a cult band, especially in Macedonia and across the Western Balkans.

The group is notable for its first self-titled album, as it was the first popular music in Western Balkans record in Macedonian language. The album was a major success and it is listed among the top ten rock albums ever released in Western Balkans.

Mizar was formed in 1981 in the then Socialist Republic of Macedonia. Because of the band's avant-garde sound and image, its Christian leanings and support for Macedonian self-determination, they were viewed with certain degree of suspicion by the former authorities. Still, the group received great media attention including numerous appearances on the national television.

The band got its name after Mizar which is a guiding star for orientation of travelers in the deserts. The name was given by Panta Džambazoski.

Mizar's musical style is post-punk, darkwave and gothic rock. Beside influences such as Joy Division for instance, Mizar also uses elements of Traditional Macedonian folklore and Byzantine music. Another main part of their music is Goran's (both Tanevski and Trajkoski) vocals which are based on Christian church chants.

...
Wikipedia