Well, that escalated quickly.
Italian progressive death metal band SADIST, known for their technical prowess and longevity in the scene, has found themselves in a very non-musical maelstrom after it emerged that they plan to play two shows in Russia this autumn—a fact they didn’t exactly shout from the rooftops. In fact, they didn’t announce it publicly at all. Ukrainian fans found out anyway. And now the floodgates have opened.
While the band has yet to issue any statement, their silence has only fueled the backlash.
The Silent Announcement Heard Around the Internet
The gigs, booked quietly—almost covertly—were discovered by fans, triggering an avalanche of furious comments on SADIST’s Facebook page. The main accusation: cowardice. If you’re going to play in a country currently waging a brutal war and raining missiles on civilians, own it, right?
“You are gonna play for several hundreds and make thousands your enemies,” wrote one fan. “Spitting at you in whatever countries you’re going next.”
Others called out the band’s likely go-to excuse of “we play for people, not governments”, dismissing it as an outdated and hollow phrase. The fact that the Russia gigs weren’t shared on the band’s main channels didn’t exactly help their credibility.
“Otherwise you’d not be hiding cowardly the Russian announcements,” another comment reads.
Rubles, Rockets, and Reputational Ruin
Several Ukrainian and Eastern European fans didn’t hold back, calling SADIST “a disgrace,” “a dirty rag for terrorists,” and warning them that “no self-respecting person would ever show up at their shows now.”
A former Ukrainian fan shared regret over once taking a photo with frontman Tommy in Kyiv, now wishing he hadn’t.
And the rhetorical fire didn’t stop there.
“The other day [Russia] killed 23 civilians in Kyiv with their missiles, including children!!! May they curse you together with the murderer Putin!”
A Deafening Silence from the Band
At the time of writing, SADIST hasn’t responded to the criticism. Some users claim their comments were deleted—fueling further outrage and accusations of cowardice. Others simply want an answer: Are you really going to Russia? That question now hangs over the band’s reputation like a cloud of stage fog that smells distinctly of geopolitics and poor PR decisions.
Whether SADIST will double down, cancel the gigs, or issue a carefully worded apology remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: in the age of global metal fandom and very visible war crimes, “staying neutral” doesn’t fly so easily anymore.
Final Thoughts?
Touring is tough, especially for European bands with niche audiences. But if you’re going to perform in a country currently labeled by many as a terrorist state, maybe don’t try to hide it and hope no one notices. Metal fans might forgive a bad album—but they don’t forget betrayal.
