Trivalia

Trivalia (Serbian Cyrillic: Тривалиjа; trans. Tribalia) was a Serbian and former Yugoslav gothic rock/industrial band from Niš.

History

1980s

The band was formed during the summer of 1986 in Niš by vocalist Vladimir Žikić "Vlad-a-Mantis", also the songwriter as well as the rhythm machine sequencer, bass guitarist Boban Stojiljković "Bocko" and guitarist Srđan Jovanović "Điđa". The band was named after Triballi, an ancient tribe whose dominion was around the plains of modern southern Serbia and western Bulgaria. Starting with a lot of written material, during the following year, the band recorded their debut extended play We Always..., inspired lyrically by religion, mythology, secret societies and musically predominantly by movie soundtracks, and the popular post-punk and gothic rock acts such as Joy Division, The Sisters of Mercy, The Mission, The Cure and Fields of the Nephilim.^[1] The album was released independently by the band themselves on compact cassette only. Beside the recorded material, on live appearances the band also performed cover versions of the bands they were citing as their influences.

Until 1989, the band had performed rarely due to Stojiljković's army obligations, and on his return, the band recorded new material featuring a combination of gothic rock, darkwave and industrial music with the elements of Byzantine music, independently released on the EP Pravoslavia (Orthodoxia), available on compact cassette, which was the case with most of their later releases. The album, featuring the songs "Popečenije" ("Ministry"), "Praviteljstvujušči sovjet serbski" ("The Ruling Council of Serbia") and "Pričeš" ("Thou Speakest"), did not include drum recordings, and the band instead used the Edic rhythm machine both on studio and live performances. The material was presented live in a form of a performance, featuring stage decorations, video and light effects. During the late 1989, Jovanović left the band, being replaced by Ivan Marković "Parsifal".

1990s

In 1990, the new lineup recorded several new tracks which, beside the selection of the previously recorded material, appeared on the compilation album Telo i duša (Body and Soul) released in a limited printing of 50 copies by the Black Rider independent record label.^[2] The same record label had rereleased the first two studio albums. During the same year, the band had entered the Naissus Studio and recorded three songs, "Ruža i krst" ("A rose and a Cross"), "U sobi" ("In the Room") and "Blede ruke volim tako mnogo" ("Pale Hands I Love so Much"), released on the EP Dat Rosa Mel Apibus (Latin for The Rose Gives Honey to the Bees), dedicated to the Rosicrucian Order. Printed as a limited edition 7-inch EP by Jugoton, the EP was eventually released on March 1991 by the Studenkult-SKC Niš independent record label. The former two songs had quickly become minor hits, providing the band with an opportunity to perform as an opening act for Električni Orgazam, KUD Idijoti and U Škripcu.^[1] After the EP release, the new band member had become Miloš Vukotić (guitar, vocals, keyboards).

On October and November 1991, new material was recorded at the Cash studio and released on the religiously-oriented album Crna voda (Black Water), inspired by the novels Sveti gral (Holy Grail) and The Neverending Story. The album, released by Happy House records, featured guest appearances by the guitarists Dejan Šišnjić and Goran Savić, and the release was produced by Dejan Glozić. Beside the new tracks, including the Holy Grail novel-inspired song "Sion", the album featured the rerecorded versions of "Ruža i krst" and "U sobi", this time more guitar-oriented. The band had also recorded their first promotional video for the Afirmator 2 television show. After the album release, two live appearances were made at the Belgrade club Bunker and held several local performances in Niš, including the May 21, 1992, performance at the cult M Pub, which was their first solo concert, featuring beside their material, cover versions of The Ramones, The Sisters of Mercy and Kraftwerk.^[1]

The followup, the studio album Headhunter, released in 1992, for the first time featured the material entirely featuring the lyrics in English language. The album, featuring electronic body music influences, mainly acquired by the band members through the works of the band Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, Klinik, Front 242, was released by the Dobri Isak frontman Predrag Cvetičanin's indie record label DOM.^[1] After the album release, the band was joined by Ivan Litovski as the new guitarist, and in 1992 the band released the compilation album Body Collection. The album, intended to be a singles collection, featured a new version of the song "Headhunter", a cover version of Kraftwerk single "Das Model", and two recordings from their M Pub performance.^[1] After the compilation release, on early 1994, the band had disbanded.

In 1996, the band performance recorded on Halloween at a concert held in the club of the Niš Medical faculty, was released on the live album Halloween Nights. After the band disbandment, Žikić continued working under the Trivalia moniker, releasing the album Instant God, featuring the song "Fisherman", nevertheless, no further recordings were made and he had withdrawn from the scene.^[1]

Discography

Studio albums

• Crna voda (1991)
• Body Collection (1992)
• The Headhunter (1992)
• Instant God (1996)

Compilation albums

• Telo i duša (1990)

Extended plays

• We Always... (1987)
• Pravoslavia (1989)
• Dat Rosa Mel Apibus (1991)

Live albums

• Halloween Nights (1996)

References

• EX YU ROCK enciklopedija 1960-2006, Janjatović Petar; ISBN 978-86-905317-1-4
• Enciklopedija niškog Rock 'n' Rolla 1962 - 2000, Stanojević Vladan; ISBN 86-902517-1-5

External links

• Trivalia at YouTube
• Trivalia at Discogs
• Trivalia at Last.fm