Soviet Knights of the Power Metal Table: Круиз (Kruiz) and Август (Avgust)

First off we have Kruiz's 1987 metal debut LP "Kruiz-1" on Melodiya. Kruiz is probably one of the most known Russian metal bands outside of Russia. Their sound was pretty commercial heavy metal in the Iron Maiden meets Def Leppard tradition but it did not lapse into total "glam" Poison / Gorky Park territory. Lots of solos and guitar showmanship here, ("Intro") but some influences from faster bands like Helloween can be felt a little bit as well ("Last Dawn"). The band went on to release a 1988 full length in the same vein, which might be featured here later, as I don't currently own it. Valeri Gaina (center in picture), the founding member and vocalist of the band, also formed a Kruiz-like group in the mid-1990's entitled Gain, and it has released a CD in 1995 when he emigrated to Canada.

Intro
Distant Light
It Happened So
Last Dawn
Come With Us
Mirage
Time



Next up we have the debut LP from Август (Avgust) - "Демон" ("Demon"). Also released in 1987 on Melodiya. The band formed in 1983, but wasn't able to release a proper LP until the glastnost era due to cultural constraints of the Soviet system. There is an extensive blurb on the back of the LP stating that even though this is technically heavy metal, the band memebrs are "real" muscisians, with "real" musical conservatory educations, and that they are heavily influenced by Bach, Schubert and Hyden. Judging from the music this is pretty spot on. The LP has some nice atmospheric touches to it, conjuring cinematic mental images of knights, voyages and adventure, the music is rather beautiful and very, very Russian ("The Piano and the Sea" and "The Bell"). Every song is basically a ballad, which I generally don't like but unlike most other metal ballads, these are done by people who are actually good at writing and playing ballads. However, the tracks like "Ночь" ("Night"), and "Опасность" ("Danger") are fast numbers. Other recommended tracks: Demon, The Bell.

Демон (Demon)
Как Болит Голова (How My Head Aches)
Осень (Autumn)
Ночь (Night)
Судите Сами (Judge For Yourself)
Опасность (Danger)
Колокол (The Bell)
Рояль в Море (The Piano and the Sea)

*I've ommitted some of the longer, non-spectacular songs to save space.