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BLACK DAY

Azazello

Progressive Metal


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Azazello Black Day album cover
3.88 | 13 ratings | 2 reviews | 23% 5 stars

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Studio Album, released in 2000

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Beginning of the End (6:49)
2. Black Day - instrumental (4:42)
3. I Love That World (6:04)
4. Free Flight (4:46)
5. Demon of Love (6:11)
6. Take Your Choice (6:40)
7. Night Before Christmas (10:44)
8. Christmas (2:15)

Total Time: 48:19

Line-up / Musicians

- Alexander Kulak / guitars, vocals
- Vitos Afanasiev / keyboards
- Idris Faridonov / drums
- Dmitry Bakay / bass

Releases information

CD Moonchild Records #MCR-34926)

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
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AZAZELLO Black Day ratings distribution


3.88
(13 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(23%)
23%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(38%)
38%
Good, but non-essential (8%)
8%
Collectors/fans only (31%)
31%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

AZAZELLO Black Day reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Greger
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars I have followed this album from the first private cassette release to finished CD. I received a private cassette release called "Cherniy Den" in 1998 by the Russian band AZAZELLO. It was the first time I heard a Russian Prog Metal band, and I still haven't heard any other Russian bands since then either.

In 1999 I received a promotional preview CD of this album. The American label Moonchild Records had signed them, and Brian Hirsch had done some digitally re-mastering before the CD-release. The original recordings were made in a cheap studio, so the sound quality wasn't the best. However the band wasn't satisfied with the new mixing so Moonchild had to do a new re-mix before the final release. Now I finally have the finished CD in my hands. This is basically the same album but with a much better sound than on the original cassette release on Volos Rec.

AZAZELLO are quite good musicians and their compositions are very good with complex rhythm changes and instrumental passages. The song titles are presented in English on the cover, but AZAZELLO's album has been recorded with Russian lyrics. This is because Russia is a very big country, and it's probably there they have their biggest market. The band is lead by Alexander Kulak who besides playing guitar also handles the vocals. He's also responsible for the main part of the compositions. Their biggest influence seems to be DREAM THEATER, but also bands such as SYMPHONY X, KANSAS, MARILLION, QUEENSRYCHE and GORKY PARK to name a few. The highlight is the +10 minutes "Night Before The Christmas".

I thing that AZAZELLO has a good chance to be recognised even outside their native country. If you're into Prog Metal bands such as DREAM THGEATER, and are brave enough to try out the Russian alternative, I recommend you to give this album a try.

Review by kev rowland
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Reviewer
4 stars If I had listened to this, but had not been told the country of origin I may just have guessed it, but by no means would it have been a certainty. Opener "Beginning Of The End" has a very brisk melody, and some good guitar work but there are also places where it is almost like a Gregorian chant. Yes, Azazello is a prog band from Russia!

I don't know how Brian managed to hear about them in California, but this intriguing release is out on the Moonchild label. And a bloody interesting release it is as well. It is very rocky in places with the guitar being very much the lead instrument, while at others it is the keyboards, but what is so interesting about the whole album is the way that the guys keep switching styles many times, even within the same song. They have also brought to bear some Russian touches as well as the more obvious influences such as Dream Theater and Qüeensryche. It is an album that has a definite sound all of its' own and is one that many progheads are going to seek out just because it has a novelty which is all too rare in these days of progressive soundalikes.

I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to this most progressive of releases

Feedback #58, May 2000

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