Mission Jupiter – “Aftermath” | Progressive Rock Central.com

…And so…our travels take us back to the nation of Belarus. A nation that has already delivered a champion. A metal band for the first half of 2025, Belle Morte; with their excellent world travelled, concept album, “Pearl Hunting”. So much great music produced from a nation full of bold musical talent.

Another Minsk, Belarus band is returning to the front of the stage again in the progressive/alternative rock genre. The long awaited return of Mission Jupiter is here! The band released their latest album, “Aftermath”, on June 20^th, on Label 51 Recordings, out of Colorado, in the USA. “Aftermath”, is the follow up album to the critically acclaimed and one of my favorite albums of 2021, “Talk to Me”.

Mission Jupiter underwent some changes in personnel, with the transition to new lead singer, Kate Varsak. The band now returns with Eugene Zuyeu, on drums, and Vladimir Shvakel, on guitar and backing vocals. Guest saxophone performance on “Crippled Country”, was delivered by Dmitri Soldatenko.

Mission Jupiter is an alternative rock band formed in Minsk, Belarus. Their press release states, “Dramatic songs are framed by a gloomy, modern, and atmospheric sound. Mission Jupiter brings a breath of fresh air to today’s alternative and progressive rock music combining various sounds, moods, and touching melodies that leave you breathless. During their career, the band released 2 albums, (“Architecture” in 2018 and “Talk To Me” in 2021”)”.

Four previous singles have paved the way for the new album, with ’Sometimes It Hurts”, “Human Nature”, “Self-Destruction” and “Crippled Country” all having been issued in recent months. Prog Magazine praised the first of these as “a soaring slice of uplifting and dramatic melodic prog” and that ‘Human Nature’ “displays the far-reaching appeal of a band who mix atmospheric prog, the darker undercurrents of Cocteau Twins and up-tempo alternative metal.” Metal Talk described the same song as being “swamped by wonderful moods and melodies, all wrapped around a stunning female voice.”

Well, now it’s my turn:

“Aftermath”, opens with “Revelation”. And there must have been many nights and days of revelations after Nastia Shevtsova left the stage. Such a promising voice and talent, and we were sad to see her leave the band. Her voice was such an integral part of what made “Talk to Me”, so powerful. But, as they say, “life goes on”. She left, not angry, but to take advantage of other life choices that were important to her. Imagine, one country with Nastia Shevtsova, Anastasia Schebrova, (Belle Morte), and now Kate Varsak. Absolutely wonderful. Well, after a short lead electric guitar chord innovation, and some excellent keyboard playing, we hear the first vocals from Kate Varsak, “My life is so bizarre. Nothing special when you are full of doubts and gloom. My revelation is on the other side of the moon. But I’ve been asked for a thousand times. If I know the reason why. Rise. Don’t be down again. Dream helps to ease your way. Life makes fun of me. I’m still one step behind. The world goes on. Changes come!” And so they do. Kate’s first vocal impression, for me, is, that…nothing’s missing. She has a wonderful voice that at times does sound like the magic of Nastia Shevtsova. They picked a great song to introduce her too. This powerhouse bends more towards the metal side. “Aftermath” is off to a great start!

On “Sometimes It Hurts”, we hear vocals that start with more of the sound made famous with Nastia Shevtsova. But I have a feeling, Kate Varsak likes the harder sound of this band, more. She sings, “Moment of happiness. But I recall my life full of loneliness. Two shades of empty glass. Ruin all intentions for a better place. Healing pill. That’s all I need. Sometimes it hurts. I think twice and choose the action for salvation. No matter what. I will climb to leave no chances for obsession”. Yes, so far, “Aftermath” has a harder edge to it. Until the keyboards take over and fill the soundscape with emotional throughput. Those keyboard moments and soft vocals are what I remember well from “Talk To Me”. But you must move on and I think they are on the right track for sure. Kate closes this well with great lyrics, “Like the sun in the sky. We go down and arise. That’s all I know.

Keep your phoenix inside. Burning flame down the spine. It’s mine!” For sure!

“Human Nature”, is another single released early, before the album. It brings back some of that slower, well developing melody I remember from “Talk To Me”. In fact, it reminds me of one of the tracks of that album. Kate Varsak sings, to slow guitar, bass, keyboards and drums, “When my voice is under water. I feel no need to shout. I’d better listen to other voices. They tell me more this time. Long, long way to understand. What motivates us to live this way. I go first. Then everyone else. What if we are God’s creations? Why do we hide our hearts? I’d better listen to inner voices. They always tell what’s right”. Yes indeed. A deep, reflective song that really draws you in closer.

“Self-Destruction”, opens with punky, grinding guitars and heavy bass, fed with power from those thumping drums. I think this was the new style of sound that Vladimir Shvakel tried to explain to me during the album’s production. It sounds like postmodern punk and it is great. Kate Varsak sings, “In my cage. I don’t feel alive. I’m on the edge. Need some gasoline to run. Don’t need you completely. This hole is mine. I ask for some shelter. It will complement my mind. Love can heal. Even when you don’t believe. Come and take it “in a hard way”. No pain, no gain. God must help me. I’m still here, babe. I do believe in happy ends. I try again”. Please never give up. Vladimir Shvakel never did.

“Crippled Country”, may be the best song on the album. A real and deep, reflective cry for help and change in Belarus. We in the USA may now express more empathy, hopefully, now that we have all experienced a similar situation, under our current President. But Belarus’ people have been living like this for decades. Kate Varsak sings, “Should we stay here? And weep for a crippled country. Or maybe I must flee. The place I love. My hope has gone. I’m stuck in here. Where constant fear. Destroys my life. And drives me nuts. I hate these times. But I don’t cry. My homeland”. Then, Dmitri Soldatenko’s warm saxophone solo kicks in and it almost brings you to tears. Again, the theme, never give up.

“Jak Spyniajecca Bol”, or in Belarusian, (How the Pain Stops). Kate Varsak sings the sad lyrics in her native Belarussian, set to a dirge-like tempo and melody. I can’t translate it, but you don’t need English to feel, or have empathy, with the emotive sounds in her voice, along with the music.

“Bittersweet (Love Song)”, the single was released on May 23 as the final single to be teased from the new album. “It is about a woman who thinks about her perfect man and visualizes their romantic relationship”, the band explains. “She hasn’t found him yet, but already has butterflies in her stomach. What an inspiring feeling!” Kate Varsak sings, “Happy shady song. Like my semi-empty home. Where I live. And sing the song so heartfully. I’m walking in the dark. To hold you in my arms. I’ve never had a chance to know you”. One of the most positive and upbeat songs on “Aftermath”. The electric lead guitar solo, near the middle is one of the best on the album. In fact, there is innovative electric guitar all over this song. Kate Varsak kind of blends some rapping vocals in, near the end of the song.

“The Dark”, is an instrumental song, full of orchestration and deep strings and keyboard synths, that is perfectly placed near the album’s end. A wonderful 0:56 second track that just passes by too quickly.

“Nothing Lasts Forever”, opens with a deep string soundscape and orchestration. Acoustic guitar plays through and supports Kate Varsak, like something I remember off of “Talk To Me”. Vladimir Shvakel supports Kate Varsak vocally, as she sings, “Lovely world. Where I was born. We used to live. In real dreams. Life was happy and easy in all. It was like shiny rainbow. I could touch and climb alone. Time moves on. Now I have grown. It’s heavy. Not easy at all. To see how simple fantasy. Turned into empty hope. We all should know. World transformed. No need to weep. ‘Cause nothing lasts forever. I know. We faced painful times. They opened our eyes. And you, did you await this? No one could deny. We cried one more time. Believe, nothing lasts forever. Helpless world”. The most powerful lyrics and song on the album. This is the one you’ll buy “Aftermath” for, and enjoy it. This would be a great James Bond theme song.

But yes, there is another closer to this album. “This Is Not The End”. It opens with an almost Yes, keyboard intro; followed closely by a Carl Sagen speech about a space telescope, that many scientists and astronomers wanted named after him. After all, the band’s name is Mission Jupiter. There had to be at least one space shot song. Kate Varsak sings, “When darkness falls. And curtain drops. We tend to think. This is forever and ever. When sadness comes. And lights go off. We all believe. This hell will be over. We’ll rise again!”

You absolutely have to celebrate Mission Jupiter getting “Aftermath”, off the ground. I remember chatting on the Internet with Vladimir Shvakel about all of the changes happening with band’s lineup and I was worried that there may not be a follow up to such a wonderful album like “Talk to Me”. But as you can see and hear on “Aftermath”, the aftermath of all that confusion, sadness and change was a brilliant album. I really take my hat off to him for just keeping this all together, and for steering this ship in the direction of producing another modern progressive rock classic. “Aftermath” is an example of believing in something and following through, with all your might. You should at least find it in your heart to give this album a listen. If you do, I think like me, you will find multiple spectacular reasons to love it. The “Aftermath” and moral of this album is, if you believe in your heart, that you can make a thing happen…you can. Thank you Vladimir Shvakel and Mission Jupiter for “Aftermath”!

Album Track List:

Revelation – 4:00
Sometimes It Hurts – 4:46
Human Nature – 4:48
Self-Destruction – 4:58
Crippled Country – 4:23
Jak Spyniajecca Bol – 4:53
Bittersweet (Love Song) – 4:32
The Dark – 0:56
Nothing Lasts Forever – 5:36
This Is Not The End – 2:44

Lyrics by Vlad Shvakel. Music by Eugene Zuyeu and Vlad Shvakel. At Label 51 Recordings, music is more than sound—it’s connection. It’s the rhythm of life, the stories we share, and the moments we treasure. Album cover and album artwork, created by Alex Kazharski.

Release schedule:

25 Oct 2024 – Sometimes It Hurts (DSP single)

24 Jan 2025 – Human Nature (DSP single)

27 Feb 2025 – Self Destruction (DSP single)

04 Apr 2025 – Crippled Country (DSP single)

23 May 2025 – Bittersweet (Love Song) (DSP single)

20 June 2025 – Aftermath (album) (CD, Vinyl, Digital)

Band Website and Social Media Links: