is a folk rock band from Vilnius, Lithuania. They were formed in 2001 as a collaboration between the pagan metal group UgnÃÂlakis and the pagan folk group Kà «lgrinda. This was reflected in the title of their debut album in 2002, UgnÃÂlakis su Kà «lgrinda.
On 19 December 2023, the band was announced among the competing artists of Eurovizija.LT, the Lithuanian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, with the song "GaudÃÂ vÃÂjai". They came second in the second semi-final on 20 January 2024, qualifying for the final.
The lyrics for the band's songs are usually taken from the folklore of Lithuanian people and are sung in their original Lithuanian language. à ½alvarinis' music frequently features singing technique of traditional Lithuanian sutartinà(a form of glee), usually sung by the band's three female singers â examples of sutartinàcan be heard in their tracks Ailiom susÃÂdom, Dijà «ta or Oà ¾ys. Authentic pronunciation as well as ancient words and their forms in folk songs are also usually preserved by the band. As a legacy of Kà «lgrinda, the band also features several folk-songs of Old Prussians.
à ½alvarinis's sound, on the other hand, while still influenced by traditional Lithuanian folk music, is more modern â generally speaking, it is a mix of traditional heavy metal and progressive rock. The first album of the band was metal-influenced, however the sound becomes more progressive in later albums.
The song Aà ¡ kanapï sÃÂjau (I Sowed a Hemp), taken from the 2005 album à ½alio vario was featured on Transformations in Lithuanian Song â a 2006 compilation CD that covered the development of Lithuanian folk music over many years. It was published by the Lithuanian-American journal Lituanus.