Tankist is a thrash metal band formed in Estonia in 2013 whose essence lies in boldly exploring the diverse facets of old school thrash. A constant at the region’s metal festivals, they are best known for their defiant nature and feral live energy.

The band emerged as a power trio of troublemakers from a rural village of 40 inhabitants to play rude retro thrash as straightforward as Sodom and Slayer. These first notoriously raw cellar band days were spent untamed in the sweat-ridden underground while pulling stunts like recording anti-religious metal in the local church for the rebellious Be Offended EP.

By 2017, Tankist had expanded to a four-piece to deliver the eccentric and no less provocative debut LP Unhuman, abundant in intricate riffs touching on the technical end of thrash. The release met acclaim and left critics struggling to pinpoint lookalikes. Though some noted Kreator and Megadeth influences, suddenly progressive comparisons like Voivod, Watchtower and Mekong Delta began cropping up.

In 2023, Tankist released their sophomore concept album Forced Equal, condemning totalitarian regimes on the gruesome example of Soviet forced labor camps. With this unique mix of blackened death-thrash akin to avant-garde, Tankist has shifted towards the cold aggression of Baltic and Scandinavian extreme metal. For now.

Tankist remains determined to advance their already unpredictable reputation with each performance and release. Catch them live or stream at home!