Master (Russian: Мастер) is a thrash metal band from Russia, founded in 1987 by Alik Granovsky, Andrey Bolshakov, Kirill Pokrovsky and Igor Molchanov who left heavy metal band Aria due to their conflict with producer Victor Vekshtein. Vocalist Mikhail Seryshev and guitarist Sergey Popov joined them to play live concerts. Their first self-titled release was half-completed by Aria's songs written by Granovsky and Bolshakov, but later they turned their music from Aria's NWOBHM-like style to the first Thrash metal in Soviet Union. Master released two albums with English lyrics, but the majority of their albums are in Russian.
In 1991 Seryshev assumed the role of Jesus in the Russian version of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstarby Andrew Lloyd Webber. The next year, Master toured Russia with Sepultura. In 1993 Andrey Bolshakov left the band.
In 1997 Seryshev dismissed the French tour. Master toured with Arthur Berkut on vocals, but after the tour Popov, Tony Shender (drums) and he left Master and started a new band called Zooom. Because of his opera career and singing in a church choir, Seryshev was unable to work with Master and left the band; soon after Lexx (Alexey Kravchenko) took his place on vocals. Also, the famous Alexey Strike joined the band. Alexander Karpuhin took over the drums.
In 2004 Alik Granovsky released solo album Bolshaya progulka. In 2004 Lexx participated in the metal opera Elven Manuscript by Epidemia.
In January 2008 Alexey Strike and Alexander Karpuhin left the band. Leonid Fomin, Andrey Smirnov and Oleg Khovrin became band's new members. Since then Master is making new studio album to release it in 2009.
