Danava

Danava (pronounced DON-UH-VUH) is an American hard rock band from Portland, Oregon. Its music fits into the categories of heavy metal, progressive rock and psychedelic rock. Danava is influenced by early hard rock, progressive rock and heavy metal.

History

Danava was formed in 2003 by Gregory Meleney, Monte Mattsson, Zachariah Dellorto-Blackwell and Ben Vargas. Meleney and Mattsson had known each other as teenagers in Quincy, Illinois. They met Dellorto-Blackwell later and moved to Portland, Oregon, where they met Vargas. They released a demo together in 2004. In 2005 Vargas left the band and was replaced by Jarred Rockwell on synthesizers just before the band signed with Kemado Records. This four piece toured extensively and recorded their self-titled album in 2006 and UnonoU in 2008. Meleney plays 98% of all the keyboards on both records.

A video for the song "Where Beauty And Terror Dance" (UnonoU, 2008) was released and played on MTV2's Headbangers Ball.

In summer 2008, Rockwell left the band for other musical pursuits on the east coast. In September 2009, Mattsson left the group to pursue his studies in biology and was replaced by Matthew Oliver. Andrew Forgash, a rhythm guitarist, also joined at this time.

Danava (album)

Danava is the debut album released by psychedelic rock band Danava. It was released on October 31, 2006 by Kemado Records on CD and LP.

Track listing

Personnel

Trivia

References

Danava (Hinduism)

In Vedic mythology the Danavas (Sanskrit: दानव) were a race descending from Daksha.

The Danavas were the sons of Danu (Dewi Danu in Balinese Hinduism), who in turn was a daughter of Daksha. Danu is connected with the waters of heavens and she is probably associated with the formless, primordial waters that existed prior to the creation. The name is connected with the PIE root *danu, "river" or "any flowing liquid" and is associated with the Danu (Asura). Under the leadership of Bali and others the Danavas revolted against the Devatas (Devas). Despite initial successes, the Danava were defeated by the god Vamana who in dwarf form deceived their leader Bali. The Danavas were not universally considered to be evil, individual Danava could be classified as good or bad.

Superhuman capacities of Danavas

Besides unusual longevity of Danavas they possessed by many "superhuman" capacities. All Indian legends speak they were wise, artful and knew secrets of magic - maya, could take various shape and forms - that to be "people", that to occur "in frightening appearances of enraged elephants, and also lions and tigers"(Mayan, Aztec, Toltec, Indigenous peoples of the Americas)" Rakshasas and to become invisible Nagas( Nāga ). Their descendants possessed by magic art too. The son of the skilful artist and architect Maya Danava, Bala possessed by 96 kinds of mystic forces.The sovereign of daityas Hiranyakashipa thanks to the gift to become invisible to any beings had seized the throne of Indra and had brought a devastation to the ownerships of gods. Using his mystical capacities (siddhis, siddhies), he could destroy all the Universe. The main priest and guru of Daityas Ushanas together with his beloved Dzhanti remained invisible to outside eyes within hundred years.