Black Obelisk is regarded as one of Russia's most popular
early metal bands, formed in 1986 by one Anatoly Krupnov, one of
the countries most respected musicians.
Their early work (not reviewed here) is often described as thrash,
but by the early nineties the style had shifted to an intriguing
form of hard rock/metal (often incorporating traditional Russian
themes),
quite original and interesting, led as
always by Krupnov's gruff vocals (often reminiscient of Lemmy of
Motorhead).
Most of the band's material was only released in Russian
(the album titles below are translated), though
at least one album (One More Day) did see an English release.
The first version of the band lasted until 1988, at which time
Krupnov disbanded the group,
joined fellow Russian thrashers
Shah
for an album, and later put together a new version of the band.
The band prospered in the early nineties, but tragedy struck in
early 1997, when Krupnov died of a heart attack while in the
midst of recording the next Black Obelisk record.
Eventually most of the remaining members decided to continue the
band in tribute to Krupnov, and as late as 2013 the band has
recorded.
The last recordings of Krupnov were later released as
Anatoly Krupnov - Postalbom rather than as a Black Obelisk album.
Current Members
Mikhail Svetlov
guitars
Dmitry Borisenkov
guitars/vocals
Daniil Zakharenkov
bass
Maxim Oleynik
drums
Former Members/Guests
Anatoly Krupnov
vocals/bass (ex-Shah) RIP: March 27, 1997, heart attack
Yuri Alekseyev
guitars
Yuri Anisimov
guitars
Vasily Biloshitzky
guitars
Igor Zhirnov
guitars
Nikolai Agafoshkin
drums
Sergey Komarov
drums RIP: August 14, 1990, murdered in his apartment
Vladimir Yermakov
drums
Discography
Apocalypse 1986
Intro
Àpocalypse
Midnight
Disease
Trojan Horse
Fantastic Engraving
Àbadonna
Anatoly Krupnov
Yuri Alekseyev
Yuri Anisimov
Nikolai Agafoshkin
Flowers Of Evil 1987
Àpocalypse
Àbadonna
Litanies of Satan
Spleen
Midnight
Fantastic Engraving
Flowers Of Evil
Black Obelisk
Anatoly Krupnov
Yuri Alekseyev
Mikhail Svetlov
Nikolai Agafoshkin
Last Live In Kishinev 1988
Àpocalypse
Àbadonna
Litanies of Satan
Grey Saint
Ave Caesar
Woman In Black
Midnight
Flowers Of Evil
Black Obelisk
Anatoly Krupnov
Yuri Alekseyev
Mikhail Svetlov
Nikolai Agafoshkin
Life After DeathEP 1990
Sword
The Wall
We Got Enough
Anatoly Krupnov
Yuri Alekseyev
Vasily Biloshitzky
Sergey Komarov
The Wall 1991
The Wall
We Got Enough
Grey Saint
Ave Caesar
Sword
Midnight
Gambler
Touch Too Much
Anatoly Krupnov
Yuri Alekseyev
Vasily Biloshitzky
Vladimir Yermakov
One More Day 1991
City's On Fire
Perfect Day
Stop The World (I Wanna Get Off)
The War
Who Cares
Always The Same
Better Be High
One More Day (Day Is Gone, You're Still Alive)
Anatoly Krupnov
Vasily Biloshitzky
Vladimir Yermakov
Esche Odin Den' 1992
City's On Fire
Road To Nowhere
House Of A Yellow Dream
Kill Them All
The War
Here And Now
Day Is Gone, You're Still Alive (One More Day)
Anatoly Krupnov
Yuri Alekseyev
Igor Zhirnov
Vladimir Yermakov
I'm Staying 1993
We're On The Way
I'm Staying
The 5th Song
The 7th Song
Who Are We Now?
A New Life
The 9th Song
96 + 415
About Love
Alcarel
House Of A Yellow Dream (pt.2)
Pelmennaya (live)
Anatoly Krupnov
Yuri Alekseyev
Dmitry Borisenkov
Vladimir Yermakov
Stena 1994
The Wall
House Of Yellow Dream
Ave Caesar
Sword
Gray Saint (In Rock'n'Roll)
The Gambler
Sickness
Black Obelisk
The Wall (Acoustic)
Anatoly Krupnov
Yuri Alekseyev
Dmitry Borisenkov
Vladimir Yermakov
Memory Of The PastLIVE 1994
The Wall
I'm Staying
Ave Caesar
Road To Nowhere
House Of A Yellow Dream (pt. 1)
Gambler
Apocalypse
Abadonna
Trojan Horse
Midnight
Black Obelisk
Day Is Gone, You're Still Alive (One More Day)
86-88 1995
Apocalypse
Abadonn
Spleen
Woman In Black
The Fantastic Engraving
Troyan Horse
Midnight
Anatoly Krupnov
Yuri Alekseyev
Dmitry Borisenkov
Vladimir Yermakov
Songs For The RadioEP 2000
Winds & Fogs
There
You're Gone
Smoke (dedicated to Anatoliy Krupnov)
Seek & Destroy
Mikhail Svetlov
Dmitry Borisenkov
Daniil Zakharenkov
Vladimir Yermakov
Ash 2002
Sorry and Goodbye
Ash
Earth To Earth
You're Gone (ver. '02)
There (ver. '02)
Winds & Fogs (ver. '02)
Alone
Smoke (ver. '02)
Spring
You Cheated Me
Strange Song
I'm Leaving With You
Mikhail Svetlov
Dmitry Borisenkov
Daniil Zakharenkov
Vladimir Yermakov
Nerves 2004
Nerves
The Dead Don't Write Letters
Weekdays
Too Late
Give Me A Chance
Freedom
Bitch (Talking ...)
Other Heroes
Don't Tell Me
Songs of ...
Shock & Shiver
Drops Of Rain
Mikhail Svetlov
Dmitry Borisenkov
Daniil Zakharenkov
Vladimir Yermakov
Friday 13 - Live Presentation Of Esche Odin Den' 2004Grand