Russia's War on Metal

In July 2025, Russian authorities designated the "International Satanism Movement" as extremist and banned it, widening the scope of repression to people using devil-related imagery, including for artistic purposes. Heavy-metal rock music acts have been particularly affected. The independent outlet Veter reported on raids by Russian security forces targeting metal concerts and how the country’s metal community is adapting to mounting pressure.

On March 14, 2026, a concert titled "Pokhorony Zimy" ("Funeral of Winter") took place at a club in Yaroslavl, featuring four bands performing extreme heavy music with pagan themes. During a set by the Arkhangelsk-based pagan black metal band Garmskrik, security forces stormed the venue.

All attendees were forced to lie face down on the floor for about six hours, according to witnesses. Officers walked over people and beat them with batons indiscriminately. One attendee, identified for safety reasons only as "Vladimir," said some men had their long hair and beards cut. Media reports said officers marked people with words such as "faggot" and "fascist," singling out those deemed suspicious.

Phones were confiscated, and officers checked individuals' Telegram subscriptions and chats before releasing them. "Vladimir" said he suffered injuries to his ribs and left the club late at night with bruises and a head wound.

Another attendee, "Konstantin," said some people were subjected to electric shocks. According to his account, attendees were forced to undress while officers searched for "prohibited" tattoos. Women were taken to a separate room and also made to remove their clothing. Konstantin said officers were looking for alleged Nazi links, including through Slavic symbols.

Witnesses said military enlistment officials were present. Some detainees were reportedly urged to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry to serve in Russia's War on Ukraine. Russian state media said 23 people were detained, with 20 found to have "neo-Nazi" tattoos. Administrative charges were filed against six persons.

Sources cited several possible reasons for the raid, including a broader crackdown on nationalism and fallout from a recent mass brawl that involved skinheads, in a Yaroslavl shopping center. Another factor may have been a Belarusian band linked to far-right circles that had been scheduled to perform.

Yet the raid was not an isolated case. On January 6, 2026, security forces raided a hardcore music event in a Moscow bar, forcing attendees to the floor and checking phones for anti-war content or Ukrainian-linked channels. Some attendees were reportedly pressured to sign military contracts and beaten if they resisted.

A month later, on February 8, 2026, police raided a Moscow concert by a black-death metal band, citing alleged use of prohibited symbols. Ten people were detained, though attendees said no such imagery was present.

Researchers and industry figures say authorities often apply "associative responsibility," targeting artists based on perceived links rather than direct evidence. While some metal bands use occult imagery, others without such themes have also faced disruptions.

Journalist and publisher Felix Sandalov said linking "Satanism" with "extremism" in official rhetoric was predictable, given longstanding concerns from the Russian Orthodox Church and its growing alignment with the state. Promoters say the pressure is reshaping the scene.

"Igor," a Moscow-based concert organizer, said attendance at small concerts has declined, driven not only by enforcement but also by fear among attendees. Others say the impact may be uneven. Some organizers report temporary drops in attendance after raids but note strong community loyalty among fans.

At the same time, the concert ecosystem is changing. Some events are moving to cash-only formats and shifting discussions to private channels. Musicians are also adapting, increasingly relying on allegory.