ONE: Tatjana and Lena in the Ukraine War

One of the most famous heavy metal anthems in music history is “ONE” by Metallica. It tells the story of a soldier who is severely wounded and lies dying—helpless and immobile. His father had told him that it would be a worthy cause to sacrifice his son for the sake of democracy. It is an unequivocal depiction of the emotions of a war casualty who has had to undergo the amputation of both arms and legs. He can see nothing, cannot move his arms, cannot speak, cannot hear, and can no longer move his legs. Doctors and nurses lean over him, discussing his condition, but for him, life can go no further. People vividly recall these final sensations of life just before they die. One can only surmise, but soldiers have fallen in war, and the trauma continues to impact lives to this very day. Humanity remembers—whether consciously or subconsciously; yet, forbidden to speak of it openly, everything finds its expression in music and art. This song about dying draws from a life lived in the past, and Metallica has crafted a monumental heavy metal track about it—one that cuts right to the bone.

Jinjer is a heavy metal band from Ukraine, and Lena Scissorshand is a heavy metal vocalist from Moldova. Both are now renowned singers; indeed, Jinjer’s frontwoman, Tatiana Shmayluk, so impressed Metallica that she has since provided vocals for several of their formerly instrumental tracks. James Hetfield embraces her affectionately, and together—regardless of how far removed it might be from the typical tastes of heavy metal stars—they all head off to a children’s theater performance.

And so, the song “One” makes its return—performed by Tatiana and Lena. Prompted by current events, they retell the story once again, delivering it with immense bombast and magnificent music:

Tatjana sits by the fire in the forest like Artemis, a stag behind her.

Then war comes and destroys her world; violent bombs rain down, and they begin to pray.

It is a cry for help from Ukrainian women—a plea to look closely, to turn one’s gaze toward their country and heed the war unfolding there.