From Tynda, far east of Russia, AZAZELLO is one of the oldest and most respected bands of it's genre. Despite being, virtually, at the end of the world for most of it's listeners, 4 brave siberians managed to produce some of finest music in russian progressive rock/metal. Mixing art-rock elements of Yes with heaviness of Dream Theater and Megadeth, they also drive inspiration from russian folklore and singers/songwriters. So far the band released following albums:
"Black Day" (1998) - Moonchild Records, USA
"Upstairs" (2000/2001) - Musea Records, France
"The Wings" (2003) - Starless Records, Russia/Mellow Records, Italy
"Seventh Heaven" (2005) - Starless Records, Russia
"Windhead" (2006) - Starless Records/Volos Records, Russia
(acoustic collection of early songs, mostly in singer/songwriter style)
Also it's worth to mention several side-projects. Most important of them was Azazello collaboration with DIVO folk choir in 1998, mixing autentic folk tunes with heavy metal, thus pioneering whole genre of folk metal! 2 existing tracks could be found as bonus tracks on "Windhead".
Alex Kulak released his solo album "For those who knew and were waiting" under moniker KULAK. He produced several local bands, like CHAIN REACTION for Nerungri town, where he sang lead on 1 track and AZIRIS, collaboration between Azazello and Nerungri singer/songwriter Irina Shamarina.
Most recently, Alex Kulak, Idris Faridonov and local singer Nick Halizov recorded melodic rock sideproject NEBO (Heaven).
Azazello plays important role in cultural life of their hometown Tynda by organizing a festival called AZAFEST, inviting important bands all over Far East of Russia. If not for Azazello, most probably some interesting names from that region would've never existed
But activity of Azazello is not only homebound. They played 3 times in Moscow on annual InProg festival, being headliners twice and once opened for Sweden prog rock band Nightingale (feat. Dan Swano). Also in 2001 they visited to Norway where played before Jorn Lande.
Latest release from Azazello is one new track "Gates of Heaven", released on "Amurian Wave", a compilation of local artists. New album tentatively called "The Pearl" is in the works, however it's demo version was made available among the fans.
-- Vladimir Impaler, rock journalist.
