Formed in Chelyabinsk in the Siberian region of Russia, Kauan is a metal band whose name, meaning "long time", is borrowed from the Finnish language, as are the lyrics. The project, led since 2005 by musician Anton Belov (vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming), welcomed violinist Lyubov Mushnikova and guitarist Alexander Borovikh for the recording of the album Lumikuuro, released in 2007 on the BadMoonMan Music label. The formula of folk and black/doom metal evolves towards ambient and post-rock on the following album, Tietäjän Laulu ("The Wise Man's Song"), released in 2008 and featuring studio musicians. Kauan continues with Aava Tuulen Maa (2009), before making way for Anton Belov and his wife Alina Belova's side project, Helengard. Back in 2011 with Kuu, the first album recorded for the Avantgarde Music label, Kauan integrates new musicians. Following the departure of Alexander Borovikh and Lyubov Mushnikova, Alina Belova (keyboards), Alex Vynogradoff (bass), Anton Skrynnik (drums) and Anatoly Gavrylov (viola) were recruited to record the fifth album Pirut (2013), released on Blood Music. The same year sees the release of the digital compilation Private Release. Three more albums follow, Sorni Nai (2015), Kaiho (2017) and Ice Fleet (2021), before the band moves to Finland. From their new base in Helsinki, Kauan released three live albums from concerts in Kiev in 2017, then recorded ATM Revisited, a remixed and remastered interpretation of Aava Tuulen Maa in which samples were replaced by organic instruments. In 2024, three musicians are replaced by Niko Salminen (bass), Kristian Merilahti (drums) and Helena Dumell (viola), who take part in the recording of Wayhome, released in November 2025.
