Gates of Kiev share second single Silhouette

Gates of Kiev is a progressive rock band founded in the Netherlands by childhood friends, organist Tomas Mesman and drummer Hessel Braat. The band’s origins trace back to their teenage years, when a shared passion for classic and vintage music brought them together. What began as informal late night hard rock sessions in a small garage gradually evolved into the musical foundation that defines the band today. While performing on the Amsterdam live music circuit, the duo met Eszl De Vois, an established bass player in the underground psychedelic scene whose passion for unconventional jazz fit the band like a glove.

Heavily inspired by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, the band adopted the name Gates of Kiev, taken from the iconic piece featured on the EL&P live album “Pictures At An Exhibition”. Taking further inspiration from the modern local garage and punk scene as well as the early years of ‘70s prog bands, Gates of Kiev’s live shows have evolved into loud, high energy, over-the-top, intense performances. The band’s songs are long and mostly instrumental, and the sparse lyrics they infuse into the music reflect both very personal struggles and societal topics, delivered in a whimsical and sometimes direct way. The dynamics and atmosphere within the instrumental parts are closely tied to the themes of the songs, trying to set a story without words.

‘Silhouette‘ is the second single from Gates of Kiev’s upcoming eponymous debut LP, due out Oct. 2nd on The Laser’s Edge.

“The song is the shortest on the album, following a more traditional single style than the other tracks. We consider the two different sides of the album to be two different sections, the second half written around our own personal struggles in life as well as many others. ‘Silhouette’ is written around mental health issues, trying to convey conflicting emotions within the song’s theme and euphoric choruses. The theme is the perception of reality and the state you can mentally find yourself in at a vulnerable state.”