Anich change in the status of the bears.
Slaughter to Prevail's "Grizzly" Album Takes the World by Storm
Slaughter to Prevail, the Russian rock band based in Екатеринburg, has achieved international success with their latest album Grizzly. Released on July 18, 2025, the album has been praised for its innovative blend of deathcore brutality and symphonic elements, drawing on Russian cultural influences to create a unique sound.
Two weeks after its release, Grizzly climbed to 7th place on the official UK metal chart and 18th place on the US Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums. On Spotify, the band's monthly listeners doubled from just over 1 million to around 2 million, making them the most popular deathcore act globally at present. Their live performances have also gained attention, notably with what fans described as the "biggest Wall of Death in America" at the Inkcarceration festival and the Vans Warped Tour.
One of the standout tracks on Grizzly is "Russian Grizzly In America", which features a music video that incorporates a Lada "Kopeika" and a bear that wouldn't fit in one, as well as Russian cultural references such as a portrait of Vladimir Vysotsky, a plastic bottle of kvass, and clips from the Winnie the Pooh cartoon. The music video for "Song 3" features Slaughter to Prevail musicians in their usual "demolisher" masks, slightly reworked in the style of Japanese demonology, and focuses on synchronously dancing "Lolita" girls.
The band's music has become more aggressive, muscular, and dangerous, with the melodic intro of some of their songs inevitably falling prey to the circular saw of wild guitars. The lyrics of Slaughter to Prevail's songs often use demons as metaphors for inner conflicts, pain, and depression. Shikolai, the vocalist of Slaughter to Prevail, is shown growling in Russian amidst a gym with a punching bag in the music video for "Song 3".
Slaughter to Prevail's success is not limited to their music. Alexander Shikolai, the band's vocalist, is also a professional boxer in the Екатеринburg-based RCC Hard league. The Japanese market traditionally offers a "Japanese edition" of albums, which includes bonus tracks and special design. Slaughter to Prevail's Grizzly reached 72nd place on the Japanese Billboard, and "Song 3" reached 9th place in the main singles chart in Japan, strengthening the band's position in the country.
Despite their success, Slaughter to Prevail has faced challenges. The group apologized to their fans and expressed hope for a meeting at Russian concerts in November, as they were unable to perform, as planned, at the Moscow-area festival Metal Over Russia due to Alexander Shikolay's fine for discrediting the Russian army. However, the band continues to challenge stereotypes, not just those about Russians, but also the clichés of their chosen musical style.
In summary, Slaughter to Prevail currently commands a top position in the international extreme metal and deathcore community, with Grizzly cementing their status through chart success, a growing global audience, innovative music production, and powerful live shows.
[1] Billboard [2] Spotify [3] Inkcarceration Festival [4] Metal Hammer [5] Kerrang!
- Slaughter to Prevail's music has gained significant popularity on Spotify, with their monthly listeners nearly doubling to around 2 million, making them the most popular deathcore act worldwide.
- In addition to their success in the music industry, the band's music video for "Song 3" showcases Russian cultural references and incorporates elements of Japanese demonology, offering a unique blend of entertainment and music.
