The Russian Metal Band Slot
Image source: Лисса Фокс / CC BY-SA via Wikimedia Commons
Formed in 2002, The Slot (Слот) were a moderately successful Russian industrial, alternative nu-metal band from Moscow. Singing and writing their songs in both Russian and English has allowed them to take on both the Russian market place and become better known around the globe.
Introduction: The Russian Metal Band Slot
The members of the group are: Vasiliy «Ghost» Gorshkov, Sergey “ID” Bogolyubsky, Nikita Muravyov, Igor “Cache” Lobanov and the singer Daria (Nookie) Stavrovich. As of this year, 2020, the band has released a total of 8 studio albums, 2 mini-albums, 2 remix albums. They have also recorded and released over 20 singles, along with numerous soundtracks. The group are equally well known for their super long tour dates. These can often take more than a year to tour around Russia and it’s neighbors.
The First Album
They released their first album, “SLOT 1” under Jamie Palumbo’s Ministry of Sound label. Unfortunately, it’s not about the best jackpot slot machines. Having their debut single and accompanying video, “Odni” (Одни) on 24 play time on MTV and the Russian equivalent, A-One TV, helped them move around 10,000 copies internationally. In spite, or maybe because of their initial success, the singer Teona Dolnikova left the band in 2004. She sighted a burgeoning solo career, though others point to musical differences. Nevertheless, the eventual winner of the 2005 RAMP Awards (the Russian equivilent of MTV Awards) Uliana Elina (nicknamed IF), became the lead vocalist for the next 2 years.
Hit Of The Year
During this period, the band played on numerous film tracks as well as performing with Korn at the Saint Petersburg’s Ice Palace in 2006. That same summer they opened a Myspace (remember that?) and gained over 20,000 plays in their first month on the platform. Then in 2006, the second studio album, “2 Wars” (2 войны) hit the streets and went on to sell over 8,000 in the first 12 weeks of release. The single from the album of the same name was again on rotation across all the Russian TV video streaming channels. From this they went on to receive a number of nominations at that years RAMP Awards. In fact they took home the “Hit of the Year” thanks to the vocals of their new singer, Daria Stavrovich (nicknamed “Nookie”). Previously she was in second place on the awful TV show “The Voice”.
Towards The English Language
Never ones to rest on their laurels, they embarked on a grueling 50 date tour across the Baltic’s and were seen by over 50,000 fans. Which, in reality, for over 50 dates, really isn’t that much. Then in autumn of 2007, they release their third studio album, “Trinity” (Тринити). From this they release a single with music video called “Dead Stars” (Мёртвые Звёзды). Then in late 2009, their forth studio album, “4Ever”, came out and was immediately picked up (and then dropped) by foreign music media. This was thanks to the single, “Mirrors” (Зеркала) being both in Russian and English. Hoping to find a new and successful market place, they quickly follow up with the maxi-single to Mirrors, along with re-mastered additions of “Dead Stars” and “My Angel”. Back then, it seemed like they’ll make it to the online lotto news after hitting the jackpot…
Not Enough Fans
Carrying on the English language theme, they release a new album in 2011, “Breaking The Code”, which was only available in English. Unfortunately, this is a great means by which to alienate your home market place. To add salt to the wound, it’s marketing was also in Japan of all places. Fans are a fickle bunch, and their adulation can quickly turn to spite. Within weeks they were dropped by their label. To try and save the day, they released a new album, Шестой (Sixth) via crowd funding. Yeah, it has a Russian title. And it’s crowd funded. But the damage truly is done.
Someone’s Not A Metal Fan
On the 18th of April 2014, the lead singer, Nookie was signing autographs near the Cafe Stoker in St Petersburg. An armed young man repeated stabbed her in the neck. Luckily she was able to defend away most of the blows with her hands and arms. She spent some time in hospital, though her injuries were not life threatening. The year 2018, saw the release of a “best of” 15″ EP on CD. This features songs they were able to license to a new label, Sliptrick records. But again, it was only available for the US, UK and Japanese markets.
