The Ukrainian city of Lviv is home to a vibrant heavy metal rock scene, with local bands like YAD drawing crowds of enthusiastic fans to intimate venues across the city. But for these musicians, their music is more than just a form of entertainment – it’s a way to express their fears and anxieties about the ongoing conflict in their country.
Boghdan Sulanov, the lead singer of YAD, is a software developer by day and a rock star by night. He explains that his band’s music is all about survival – something that has taken on new meaning since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “Young people didn’t appreciate music in the same way before the war,” he says. “Our band always sings about our problems, and right now, it is that we want to survive.”
For Sulanov and his bandmates, music is a way to channel their emotions and connect with their audience. Backstage at a recent concert, the atmosphere is frenetic as the band prepares to take the stage. Sulanov edges past a guitarist who is drenched in sweat after an adrenaline-fueled set, and reaches for a rucksack containing his stage clothes.
Onstage, Bohdana Nykyforchyn, a 35-year-old singer with shoulder-length dyed red hair, transports the audience through a range of emotions with her powerful vocals. At one point, her voice cracks and she looks like she might cry. After her set, she explains that she is eight months pregnant and that her emotions are all over the place. “My dream was to climb this stage,” she says. “When the second song came on, I felt all my emotions bubble up.”
Backstage, Sulanov has transformed into his on-stage persona, dressed all in white with a balaclava that reads “not nice” covering his face. When YAD takes the stage, the audience erupts in excitement, with fans of all ages singing along to the band’s songs. For many of these concert-goers, heavy metal is a way to release pent-up emotions and connect with others who share their love of music.
Marichka Chichkova, the event organizer who is helping out at the bar, admits that heavy metal is not her preferred music genre. But she is happy to see so many people enjoying themselves and notes that music can be a powerful release for both musicians and their fans. “It’s also a release for musicians; this is very important, too,” she says.
For Sulanov and his bandmates, playing heavy metal music is about more than just entertainment. It’s a way to express their fears and anxieties about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and to connect with others who share their struggles. As long as the war continues, they will continue to use their music as a form of resistance and survival.