HELL:ON Celebrate 20 Years with New Documentary “20 Years Our Own Way”

Ukrainian death metal veterans HELL:ON are marking two decades of existence with a new documentary, “20 Years Our Own Way”, looking back at the band’s history from its beginnings in Zaporizhzhia in 2005 to the present day.

Over the past 20 years, HELL:ON have released albums, played countless shows and festivals, toured across Europe, covered thousands of kilometres, experimented with their sound and, like everyone else in the Ukrainian metal scene, lived through some very difficult times. Somehow, they made it this far.

As founding member Oleksii Pasko puts it:
“I used to say that I pay attention to a metal band if it has existed for around 10 years and already has a couple of albums to its name - something you can, so to speak, put on a shelf. We’ve been around for more than 20 years now. That’s a lot for the Ukrainian heavy metal scene. Some families don’t even last that long. We did.”

“20 Years Our Own Way” is not simply a retrospective of the band’s discography. The film is about the people who have been part of HELL:ON over the years - the musicians who built the band, the friends who stayed close, the artists who shared stages with them, and everyone who travelled with them on the road. And, as the band puts it, what happens on tour stays on tour.

The documentary brings together archival material, live footage, backstage scenes and stories from HELL:ON members, friends and musicians from the Ukrainian metal scene. It follows the band from their early years and first recordings through concerts, festivals and tours outside Ukraine, all the way to the present day and the work on their next album.

The film also documents a part of the history of Ukrainian heavy music that HELL:ON experienced first-hand - from small club shows and early recordings to major festivals and international performances.

And there is no attempt to turn those 20 years into some polished legend.

This is simply HELL:ON’s story, remembered the way they lived it.

“Despite the difficult times, despite the war, despite everything - we kept going. Thank you to everyone who has been there along the way. This film is for you”.

HELL:ON - 20 Years Our Own Way.

The documentary contains strong language and is not recommended for viewing with children.