The band was formed in August 1999 by keyboardist Sergey Banakh, guitarist/vocalist Andrey Banakh and guitarist Sergey Petrenko. In October 1999 keyboardist Eugene Lubinets came, Sergey took guitar, Andrey began to play bass. Music of new band can be described as gothic metal - it was fast but depressive and simple but symphonic.
In March 2000 rehearsal tape "Chaos" was recorded live in studio. It consisted of two songs with total playing time 12 min. Now it’s lost. Line-up in that moment: A.Banakh (bass, vocals), S.Banakh (guitar), S.Petrenko (guitar), Elena Dubrovka (keyboards, back vocals); there were also session guitarist, drummer and 2nd keyboardist. It was ultra-symphonic gothic/doom metal with growls and female voice. A little bit later the name "Gardarika" appeared. In Autumn 2000 Elena left the band, but new keyboardist Andrey Shaitanov and drummer Max Rukas came
In the beginning of 2001 music and lyric conception of the band was found: death/doom with folk melodies and pagan atmosphere. In January 2001 A.Shaitanov left the band. In Spring 2001 new drummer Piotr and bassist Artyom came. A.Banakh finally chose guitar. In August and October 2001 Gardarika played two live shows in Zaporozhye. The band stands quiet famous in its native city.
In Winter 2002 Artyom left the band and Andrey Grebennikov came. So, the core of present Gardarika was formed. Also new keyboardist Eugene Klyushnichenko came. In Autumn 2002 Piotr left the band. Gardarika remains without live drummer…
During years 2002-2003 the band worked hard on the first long-play album "Volkodav" ("Wolfhound") based on the fantasy novels of Russian writer Maria Semenova. Final point was put in Summer 2003, when A.Banakh finished drum tracks to all songs. Eugene left the band. Gardarika stood a trio. In Autumn 2003 the first recording session began.
Till May 2004 just two songs – "Volkodav" ("Wolfhound") and "Otchego ne hodit’ v pohody?.." ("Why Not Going To Marching?..") – and "Intro" were recorded. The quality of sound was quiet bad, and in Autumn 2004 the band started from the beginning. But demo called "Demo ’2004", which consists of that three tracks, was self-released in CD-R format with printed b/w cover. 50 copies were spread and GARDARIKA got a lot of good reviews from different metal web-zines. Second recording session began in October 2004.
In May 2005 Dead Center Prod. (Lugansk) proposed to release Gardarika's demo in MC format (500 copies). It's a pity, but it had not issued... At the end of May the band got a first photosession and a first interview to "AntiChrist" 'zine (Lugansk). In summer young but exellent guitarist Yurij came: beside the guitar he had done the very fine sampling of drum tracks.
In the beginning of 2006 Gardarika took part in "Carpathian Might: Ukrainian Black Metal Compilation Vol.I", issued by BlackArt Rec./Gallicia Distro (both based in Lvov). The band presented a pre-mixed version of song "Otchego Ne Hodit' V Pohody?.." ("Why Not Going To Marching?.."). In September recording process of debut album "Volkodav" ("Wolfhound") was finished. From November Gardarika has a new member in it's line-up: well-known drummer Alexander Zabirka, who played in black metal bands Reusmarkt and Xul.
On 9th of February 2007 Gardarika played a 30-minutes set in Zaporozhye with russian bands Alkonost and Inside You, and on 16th of February 2007 the band took part as a headliner in "Winter Doom Fest" in Saint Petersburg (Russia) with Moscow bands N.I.M.F, The Crashdown Bird, Symphonia Obscurum and a Saint Petersburg ones - Iraventus, Predtechi and Dih. On 7th of April 2007 Gardarika did another gig in Zaporozhye as a headliner.
First long-play album "Volkodav" ("Wolfhound") was released by Moscow label Volh Records (folk/pagan/black metal sub-label of well-known in world brutal death/grind underground label Coyote Records) at the end of July 2007.
6th of August 2007 Gardarika played at the great ukrainian metal festival "Metal Heads' Mission 2007" near Yevpatoriya, Crimea.
15th of September 2007 the band did a gig at the annual bike-show near Dneprodzerzhinsk.
10 of November 2007 album "Volkodav" ("Wolfhound") was presented in "Evropa" club, Zaporozhye. Gardarika split the stage with Khors (cold atmospheric black metal, Kharkov, Ukraine), Thelema (prog techno death metal, Gomel, Belarus), Ebanath (death/grindcore, Berdyansk, Ukraine), Rotting Guts (grinding brutal deathcore, Zaporozhye) and others.
