Around the World: Czechia

 

 

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We're doing another series, now with "leather and spikes around the world of Metal". I decided to start with not so obvious direction, and instead of starting with my country, I went for our southern neigh-bors.

What are Czechs known for? Women with big breasts, beer, funny language, and beer. And of course, beer. Forget about german beer, nothing can beat the beer from Czechia.

With that said, the german infection does affect their way of thinking in regards to playing - do it yourself, but not necessarily with a sense.

Czechs mix the Slavic artistry, with german approach to sound.

This country should be known mostly for its Grindcore, as it's a dominating extreme style. To the point of creating Avantgrind (Contrastic), or doing hybrids like jazz / fusion (Vuvr, Forgotten Silence), but differently from Pestilence, and with that said, simply better, as Czechs have mastered the genres better.

From Grindcore we have a sea of known crews: Malignant Tumour, T.O.O.H., Aggressive Tyrants, Carnal Diafragma, Alienaton Mental, Ahumado Granujo, Deaf & Dumb, Dobytci Mor (Murrain), Garbage Disposal, Four Seats For Invalides, Negligent Collateral Collapse, Deflorace, Pathologist, Purulent Spermcanal, Poppy Seed Grinder, and it's only a tip of the iceberg. Notice that each one of these names are radically diferrent, and their approach, there are no two bands alike.

And that's not all, what Czechs achieved. They have Death Metal too, like Krabathor, Fleshless, Godless Truth, Lykathea Aflame, Crusher, Disfigured Corpse, Tortharry, Pandemia, or Hypnos, or my favorite, Scabbard. Their DM is more normal, but still hostile and original, but it's not in the same heavyweight like previously.

Czechs like beer (just like I do, and my grandparents, who come from Praha), so Thrash Metal definitely had something going on. I do not want to compare them to Acid Drinkers / Tankard, because it's sloppier, and as a Thrasher myself, I was a little disappointed, but there are still some names to be mentioned. In general, Thrash bands from Czechia are far from serious, and they enjoy joking, even if they still have a very sharp political commentary: V.A.R., Ferat, Siax, Crionic, Asmodeus, Debustrol, Denet, Torr, Dark, M.A.C. of Mad, or Assessor.

But what people don't know, is the existence of the Moravian Southern Wave of Doom Metal. I myself learned about it from Pařát Magazine, a magazine-turned-label, which became known for their remasters. In this category, there are plenty of bands that are unknown outside of Czechia, and there are many of them: Silent Stream of Godless Elegy, Hypnotic Scenery, Black Heaven, Dissolving of Prodigy, R.E.T., Love History, Negative Face, and Euthanasia. It's more or less standard Doom, but less weepier.

And last but not least, let's talk about Black Metal. Now this is where the Czech paradox begins. Sonic-wise, it reminds me of Hungary, as it has a huge Speed Metal influence, but at the same time, it's widely known that Czechs had a massive influence on Norwegian scene. So at the same time, we can't talk about the trve Norwegian Black Metal without them, but at the same time, they are nothing alike. Well, let me do some namecheck: Avenger, Root, Master's Hammer, Asgard, Amon Goehs, Dai (do they qualify?), infamous Enochian, and Unclean. "Black" scene was much more modest, when compared to other genres, but because there are too many black metal afficionados, it's more researched on the internet, which I don't consider fair.

In regards to labels, there are some companies worth mentioning, like Monitor (early stuff responsible for kickstarting the scene), Bizarre Leprous, Epidemie, Shindy, Sheer Records, but one has to be aware of, that it's a far cry, from what was going on in the neighborhood, including the closest in case of Slovakia, who mog Czechs completely.

Czech scene is an abstract. You never know, what you will find, but at the same time, you are rarely disappointed. There comes the old rule "don't judge the cover by its book" - and yeah, the visual presentation leaves quite often a lot to be desired, as the humor eclipses the execution. The easiest way to compare, is to a drugged hobo exhibitionist in a park, who has some massive "stuff" to show. You just can't look away.