Akiavel Explore Russian Serial Killer in “Comrade” Video

Rising death metal act Akiavel have a highly developed visual aesthetic — put another way, they look cool and make good videos — and their latest clip for the track “Comrade” is no exception, blending performance clips with a narrative about a serial killer to riveting effect.

The song comes from Akiavel’s newly-released album, Væ Victis, and explores the story of Andrei “The Butcher of Rostov” Chikatilo, who killed over 50 women and children in Russia in the 1970s and ‘80s. Vocalist Aurélie Gérard reveals to Decibel, who premiered the video yesterday:

“When I compose a song, I like to be alone at home. I’m old school so I don’t have a computer. Just a pencil and a white page. A lot of things happen in my head and in my feelings when I decide to write about a subject. When I wrote ‘Comrade,’ I was so focused in the horrors of Chikatilo that as soon as I finished, I took my son in my arms, I hugged him very tightly, I kissed him a thousand times, I almost cried… Depending on the subject, if it touches me too hard sometimes I need a little time before I dive back on another song.”

Watch the video below and prepare to hug your loved ones afterward. Order Væ Victis here.