This interview was conducted at the end of 2023 by my friend Giza in Kazakhstan. Since he had no place to publish it, he asked me if I could. We added a few more questions, along with AJAL’s complete biography, as it’s quite rare to hear grindcore coming from Kazakhstan. Enjoy!
When you think of grindcore meccas, Central Asia might not be the first region that comes to mind. But let me tell you – boy I got surprised during my last year’s trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan.
While working 700 kilometers away from Almaty, I stumbled upon an announcement for a grindcore show at the Lenore Pub. Grindcore in Central Asia? I had to see it. Get the train tickets and go!
On December 23, 2023, I found myself in Almaty’s Lenore Pub for a lineup that included grindcore acts AJAL and DESOLVATION (metal-goregrind, really), as well as black metal band ZARATHUSTRA and southern groove-metal band EYES OF SOUTH. AJAL, for me, stood out—not only for their raw, explosive performance but for their brotherly acceptance of a fellow Eastern European. The band treated me, their unexpected foreign fan, to shots of a local black-colored herb liquor and a night of piercing grindcore.
After the show, we connected, and I sent over some interview questions. Fast forward nearly a year (blame my procrastination), and now, with the release of AJAL’s Rot of Occupation EP, it’s finally time to share this band’s interview with the rest of the grindcore community.
Black Bodybag EP (2023)
AJAL’s debut EP Black Bodybag is still my personal favorite. The production has a raw, echoing quality that goes well with the band’s stripped-down, straight-to-the-point aesthetic. With nine tracks—most under a minute long—it’s pure, unfiltered grindcore. The relentless blast beats, tinny snare (LDOH vibes), and alternating growls and screams scream old-school brutality, while the lyrics dive into deeply political themes.
AJAL’s members, hailing from Almaty (Dansky, the singer) and Moscow (Anton, Sergey, Alexey), carry the weight of displacement and conflict of the Russian invasion, which they channel into their music. One can immediately hear that even though this is the first EP of a relatively new band, AJAL surely are seasoned musicians.
Burial Pit EP (2024)
Their second EP, Burial Pit, still stays true to the grindcore ethos. With six tracks averaging slightly longer runtimes, the EP feels less echoing in terms of sound, yet equally impactful. The production maintains a balance between rawness and clarity, and the screams are sharper, more mature.
One standout track is “Khashar,” whose meaning refers to the forced communal labor or conscription and paints a bleak picture of individuals being coerced into service or sacrifice for an autocratic ruler. “Khashar” is a historical critique of Russian imperialism, pointing to a perceived pattern of sacrificing lives for state interests and continuation of colonial practices over their southern neighbors. Kazakhstan suffered a lot in the 1920s under the Soviet regime but even prior to that there was a history of colonial struggle under the Tsarist Russia.
Rot of Occupation EP (2024)
Released in December 2024, “Rot of Occupation” is a compact, two-track EP clocking in at under four minutes. While the darker, echo-heavy production of earlier releases has softened, the EP retains its punch with precise blast beats and politically charged aggression.
The second track “Bunker Buster Bomb”, with its punky tupa-tupa beat and early NAPALM DEATH vibes, is particularly interesting. Besides, its lyric, albeit not as explicit in terms of names, is explicit in language and points out to the criticism of the infamous Russian leader.
First of all, thank you for the fantastic concert you performed at Club Lenore. AJAL is a relatively new band, formed in 2022, but you’ve already achieved great success. You have a studio EP and are very active, playing numerous concerts. Could you tell us how the band came together? It seems like you’re all experienced musicians. What bands were you in before?
The band was formed in the summer of 2022 when drummer Anton met Daniyar (vocals) and invited guitarist Dmitry to join. Work began on the first tracks, and in December, the lineup expanded with guitarist Roman. This lineup performed the first three concerts before Dmitry left the band. Alexey joined as bassist, and work on recording the EP “Black Bodybag” started. In April, Roman moved to southern countries, and Sergey joined as bassist, with Alexey switching to guitar. This has been our lineup ever since. In June 2023, we released the “Black Bodybag” EP and performed another seven concerts over the year. In 2024, the band has recorded two EPs, played outside of Almaty for the first time (in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan), and participated in a number of cool local events.
Anton (drums) has been involved in Moscow’s goregrind scene, playing in bands like INOPEXIA, PENIS AMPUTATOR, and HYDROPSY. Sergey (bass) leans toward death/thrash, with experience in bands such as BLOOD POLLUTION, CRITICAL EXTRAVASATION and REAPER OV SILENCE. Alexey (guitar) previously played in Moscow’s band IGOR.
In December 2024, guitarist Alexey left the band after losing interest in playing guitar. A replacement was found quickly, and the concert program was reassembled, incorporating the newest tracks. We’re now waiting for an opportunity to perform live. The new guitarist’s name is Denis, and we’ll introduce him to you soon and make some noise as we should.
For more details about each member’s musical experience before AJAL, check out: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/AJAL/3540525594.
Current Lineup (since spring 2023): Sergey (bass), Daniyar (vocals), Alexey (guitar), Anton (drums)
Former Members: Roman (guitar), Dmitry (guitar)
What does the band name mean?
The name AJAL is a Kazakh word with Arabic roots that means “death” or “irreversible death.”
The Kazakh steppe holds countless legends of warriors, spirits, and dark forces. Do echoes of these stories find their way into your songs, or is your grindcore more inspired by urban chaos?
Our lyrics are primarily about historical and political events, particularly the war in Ukraine and, to some extent, everything happening in the world right now. So, this is not quite our story.
At the same time, the band’s vocalist and drummer run their own booking agency – Albasty. Albasty is directly linked to ancient Turkic and Kazakh mythology, referring to a demon – an old woman who steals the souls of newborn babies. In Kazakh daily life, mothers sometimes call their misbehaving children “albasty” as a form of scolding.
The meaning described above, in its everyday use, fits well with extreme subcultures, representing an outcast, a hooligan, or a societal misfit. In the future, we plan to develop this concept into a full-fledged event series.
Obviously, your EPs reflect the political and social issues you explore in your lyrics and themes. What overarching themes interest you? How do societal and socio-political situations influence your lyrical and ideological stances? All lyrics and titles seem to be a statement regarding the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
Political and military situations in the world are a significant source of inspiration for us. Seventy-five percent of AJAL’s members moved to Almaty from Moscow in 2022, which comprehensively explains our views and positions. These experiences directly shape our music and themes.
Regarding the concept of the two new releases (a total of seven tracks), they continue to explore the shocking cruelty and treachery of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The themes address the manipulation of the consciousness of the Russian population, for whom the war doesn’t officially exist as they refer to it as a “Special Military Operation” (SMO). The “success” of the “second strongest army in the world” is highlighted by record-breaking losses in battles over deserted villages.
Thankfully, history is cyclical, and this will all come to an end eventually.
How do you see the influence of Russian immigrants on the Almaty music scene?
AJAL is, in a sense, a product of the influence of Russians who moved to Kazakhstan. Aside from AJAL, we’d like to mention BORZAYA, REZHIM!, KUTURAR, and TRUP KOLDUNA – bands that regularly performed and continue to perform, though some have unfortunately left Almaty. The Almaty scene is undergoing a revival, with a new generation of musicians and listeners emerging.
Thanks to musicians and organizers, there’s a positive shift toward quality and development in the local scene. We’re watching with interest and looking to the future with hope.
Regarding the EP, what influenced you in this genre?
Like any new band, our debut recording was an experiment and a search for our sound. The material for the first EP was written by the original two guitarists, who are no longer with us. While there are no specific influences, we’ve all been familiar with grindcore for years, each of us bringing a unique perspective to the mix.
Are there plans for CD releases?
We’re planning a small release in 2024, with material already composed. Due to lineup changes, the content has shifted slightly, but stylistically it remains true to old-school grindcore. Regarding the release format – Kazakhstan doesn’t have labels capable of producing something like this, and foreign labels simply don’t know about us.
I hope this interview will get you some viewership and a physical release. What can you share about your favorite concerts, other grindcore bands in Almaty, and the grindcore/death metal scene in Kazakhstan as a whole? Do you follow what’s happening outside of Almaty?
The Almaty scene has been actively developing after a period of decline, with a new wave of growth. Young bands are organizing great thematic concerts with extreme music. We’d highlight MORTAL FATE (death metal) and DESOLVATION (goregrind). Inkerit Booking also works on organizing local concerts and bringing foreign bands. Under certain circumstances, every concert becomes a favorite. Regarding other cities in Kazakhstan, we keep an eye on them and are aware of developments in their scenes.
Extreme music is rare in your region. Do you follow the grindcore scene around you?
Of course, it’s quite a rare phenomenon here, but we’ve noticed the emergence of new bands over the past few years. Whether we sparked this popularity or if it’s just a growing trend—we haven’t conducted any research.
That said, there are veterans like Шумовая Экзекуция (Shumovaya Ekzekutsiya – translated to – Noise Execution) from Aktau in western Kazakhstan – they’ve been around for 20 years. We would gladly share the stage with them again. They’ve been working hard year after year, and if you’re interested in interviewing them, we’d be happy to provide their contacts.
What concerts or even tours are planned, if any?
In March, we’re playing with Boston hardcore band DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR and are preparing seriously for this event. We’re also focusing on recording new material, so no additional concerts are planned for now, but we’re open to proposals. (note: this event has already happened in the meantime)
Grindcore often pushes everything to extremes, but do you believe there are boundaries in music that you wouldn’t cross – whether in lyrics, sound, or performances?
We definitely have boundaries. We are a highly politicized band, but our politics revolve around war and global events. We don’t engage in subcultural divisions or disputes over who is right, nor do we incite hatred or violence.
Imagine you need to create a soundtrack for an epic Asian film about bloody revenge. Which AJAL songs would be in it, and what would you name the film?
Interesting and unconventional question! “Hope for Death” and “Burial Pit” would be on the soundtrack. We would call the film “Storm in the Steppe.”
Coming from a region that many in Europe see as exotic and little-known, do you think this gives your music unique strength and originality, or do you see yourselves as purely international grindcore warriors?
We don’t consider ourselves a unique band just because of our origins, but there is one nuance – the war that led to our formation as a band and serves as the fuel for our creativity.
What is life like for the members of AJAL outside of music?
We live ordinary city lives – work, home. Some of us do sports, while others have pets. Outside of music, we often get together for drinks, hang out as a group, or go to the mountains, which are only 30 minutes away.
If your music could be translated into a martial arts style, what would it be? Lightning-fast kung fu strikes, the brute force of sumo, or the precise cuts of a samurai sword?
The brute force of sumo, in the form of concrete-piercing aerial bombs, and the precise cuts of a samurai sword, in the form of Tomahawk missiles.
Top 3 Kazakh beers?
Shymkent Pilsner, Alma-ata, Karagandinskoe
Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions! Anything you’d like to add before we wrap this up?
AJAL: Thanks for the thoughtful questions and for giving us space in NECROZINE! It’s always great to see the grindcore community growing and connecting across different parts of the world. Hopefully, we’ll cross paths again soon – whether on stage, in the pit, or over a few drinks. Stay loud, stay fast, and keep the grind alive!
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