Pointless video post – ‘Палаши’ (‘Executioners’) by Мастер and ‘Молитва’ (‘Prayer’) by АнДем

In addition with keeping abreast of Russian politics of late (both at home and abroad), I’ve also been listening to a lot of Russian heavy metal recently, both old and new. Here are a couple of my favourites:


‘Executioners’ by Мастер, from their 1989 album С Петлёй на Шее (With a Halter Around [His] Neck). Four of the founding musicians of Мастер (bassist Alik Granovsky, drummer Igor Molchanov, guitarist Andrei Bolshakov and keyboardist Kirill Pokrovsky) were originally part of the Iron Maiden-inspired rock band Ария, but they left partially due to arguments with the manager and partially because they wanted to play a harder, faster style of metal with more of a socially-conscious edge. This is more or less straight-up fist-pumping thrash, albeit with a distinctly different flavour than their contemporaries Metallica and Anthrax. It does sound a bit dated, but that is the way I like it.


‘Prayer’ by АнДем (a newer female-fronted band which started out playing Nightwish covers in Moscow clubs but branched out and started writing some pretty high-calibre speed / power metal of their own) is perhaps one of the grandest power ballads I have yet had the pleasure of hearing. Emphasis on the power. Makes you want to go out and buy a lighter to wave every time it comes on. Do listen to their album Дочь Лунного Света (Moonlight’s Daughter); it is quite an experience.