@gdeyke While in a broader sense you might be onto something, and if I'm ever rich I am absolutely pulling this shit, I can confirm that Rasputin actually appears to have been Turisas' own ludicrous idea (that video, tho), because they used to faithfully play it when they were touring the tiniest venues in support of the first album.
Oh wow, I've just reminded myself that a cover of Those Were The Days was on their first EP.
Honestly, I'd just like to sit down and have a quite pint or three with Mathias Nygård about a few musical things, cos I have questions, and not just because I was a paint-and-armour-in-the-pit Turisas fan.