Siberian Meat Grinder
The way I discovered Siberian Meat Grinder is a bit of a funny story (as it should be). A friend, A.P. once found a t-shirt of the band at a thrift store. Not knowing the band and thinking it was a funny shirt, she bought it and wore it to a party, where, to her surprise, a boy came up to her and asked “Yo you listen to Siberian Meat Grinder?!”. A.P., of course, had no idea what to say. “People actually know this band!?”, she thought.
It is true that the name is fantastic. It is a memorable marketing campaign in itself. And it worked on me. After hearing this story, I proceeded to check out the band - and loved what I found.
Siberian Meat Grinder can be found at a compelling crossroads of thrash, doom, rap, and power metal. Between the band name, the Bear-tsar mascot, and frontman Vladimir the Grand Tormentor’s name, it’s no secret where the band is from. The subject of their work is rooted in the underground culture of Moscow (the band’s hometown), inspired by everything from graffiti to antifacism. That being said, almost all of the group’s musical content is in English.
Safe to say, thrash isn’t for everyone. Even for hardcore metal people, the tempo and style of thrash can turn a lot of people off. But Siberian Meat Grinder does it damn well. Riffs are high-energy. Drums are furious. The bass is heavy (though could be heavier). Vocals take the center stage - a typical feature of thrash. Vladimir has an impeccable flow and ear for following the instrumentals. It never feels like he is behind or rushing the percussion. The maintained level of anger never fails to astonish me.
I feel like their production has become crisper over time. The riffs are less muddled and even slower at times. So, if you prefer intensity, opt for the first two records. Or if you are easing into the genre, start with their newest record. There are excellent tracks on Join The Bear Cult (2022), with Not Today being a noteable standout. However, their 2015 self-titled album remains my favorite. It is the most nostalgic for me, considering it was a highly memorable at the time I discovered it. The energy is simply unparalleled. Each catchy track offers something of value with choruses that will stick in your head, drilled in by sharp strings and screaming choirs of angry men. Hail to the Tsar, From the Dust Returned, and Fire in the Heart are all especially remarkable tracks.
Siberian Meat Grinder wont’ satisfy your cravings for diversity, but the band promises to bring a youthful ferocity to a genre that has been around for decades. As eloquently put by Angry Metal Guy back in 2017, “If all Russians are this angry, I don’t think I’d be quick to walk the streets there, but I have no problem blasting their hip-hop infused crossover to get a sample of the potential brain damage.” Enjoy the fury of Siberian Meat Grinder.
