American metalcore band As I Lay Dying is performing a series of concerts in Russia this month, despite the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The band posted a photo on Instagram showing members smiling in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, stating they “wanted to stay longer” but needed to depart for their first concert.
The tour, scheduled to begin March 3 in Krasnodar and conclude March 20 in Vladivostok, includes performances in Rostov-on-Don, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk, and Irkutsk. The concerts follow three sold-out shows the band played in Russia last October, according to a statement released by the band on Instagram, as reported by Metal-Stop.com.
The decision to tour Russia has drawn criticism, with some online commenters accusing the band of supporting a “country-terrorist.” Comments translated from Russian, shared on social media, urged the band to speak with families affected by the war in Ukraine and questioned the presence of potentially problematic imagery associated with the tour.
As I Lay Dying’s return to Russia comes after a significant lineup change in late 2024. Following the departure of most of its previous members, vocalist Tim Lambesis rebuilt the band, unveiling the new roster in October 2025, according to Metal-Stop.com. The current tour is being billed as a continuation of the 20th-anniversary celebration for their 2005 album, Shadows Are Security.
The band’s decision to perform in Russia places them among a small number of Western artists continuing to tour the country following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The vast majority of Western artists have suspended performances in Russia due to geopolitical tensions and sanctions.