KERRANG
MAGAZINE
ISSUE #225
11 FEBRUARY 1989
BRITAIN’S LOUDEST HEAVY METAL
AND HARD ROCK MAGAZINE
ARTISTS INCLUDE:
VIXEN
KRUIZ MAMMOTH
QUIREBOYS
GARY MOORE
MELIAH RAGE
PRIVATE LIFE
SLAVE RAIDER
«So far, So good, So-viet band KRUIZ . All the European magazines are read avidly here». Their debut album has gone deco-platinum, and on their first tour they pulled in 10 000 punters a night, yet until recently nobody in the West had even heard of Russian rockers KRUIZ. Crazy innit? But now, thanks to Glasnost and Dave Reynolds you can read their amazing story-and thanks to WEA, you can buy their eponymous second bone-biting Thrash masterplece LP.
In the Soviet Union there is, believe it or not , a massive , rabid underground metal scene. By hook or by crook, the kids in cities like Moscow, Leningrad and Kiev manage to obtain copies of the latest releases from the likes of Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax-procure prized copies of Western rocks magazines ., and –hold on to those hats –even go to show.
As you might imagine, all this it plain sailing. No way, albums and magazines are only on the black market or via penfriends in America, Germany or Britain ., the shows are few and, until breakthrough tours by Uriah Heep and the Scorpions recently, only homegrown bands.
Things are beginning to change in many ways, due to the sweeping peforms made by the Soviet leader Gorbachev. So far as the Metal scene is concerned , Glasnost has meant that the kids into the same music we hold in such high esteem have been able to enjoy much more freedom in the pursuit of metal Mayhem and kerrangin good times. Its done absolute wonders for the Soviet music scene too, as were about to find out.
You might remember that when the LIVE AID shows were in full swing, the USSR offered Autograf to the world. Not a bad little bands as it happened, and it their appearance sent the (now defunct) American band of a similar name scurrying into the studio to record a cover of Grand Funks (Were An) American band in a bid to halt any confusion that may have surrounded the two acts, proving just how incredibly stupid the Yanks can be sometimes.
Anyway the appearance of Autograf proved that rock DID exist within the Soviet Union and over the next few years all sorts of interesting stories began to emerge about the scene over there, climaxing with the knowledge that there were two pretty talented bands based in Moscow. The first, Gorky Park, were tearing at the nations hearts with a cute amalgam of Bon Jovi and Motley Crue ideas, whilst the other, KRUIZ, aimed their musical sights at a much heavier direction. Here we had the Soviet Unions answer to Metallica and Slayer.
KRUIZ released their first vinyl album a couple of years ago on a state owned label . It wasnt bad, but it wasnt that good either. A power trio led by guitarist/vocalist –Valery Gaina, the band sang in Russian and seemed a little confused at just what whey were trying to do. Sure, they had the power and the riffs but, at the end of the day possibly due to the ridiculously lame production- it all sounded more skin to Shout at the devil, period Motley Crue than Motorhead.
I threw the copy of the album id found lying in a second hand store into the section of my record collection and left it to gather dust. Then news emerged that WEA in Europe had snapped the band up, put them in a recording studio, and were about to release the results. Instantly grabbing a cassette of the new album I found that the liaison with a Western record label had done wonders for KRUIZ. The trio (completed by bassist F.Wassiliev and drummer S.Efimov) had come up with a bone-biting thrash masterpie –sung in English this time-they could compete in the marketplace amongst their idols.
The opportunity to speak with KRUIZ then, in the light of that really is a strong album wasnt to be wasted. But there was a problem., band leader Valerys English isnt quite up to scrate yet (although he can Im told speak German), so I would have to communicate with the man through an interpreter.
No problem there folks! Valerys girlsfriend Olga Chaiko (who happens to manage and co-write lyrics for KRUIZ) speak excellent English, as I found when I called Mr. Gaina at home in Moscow.