Silent Streams of Godless Elegy - Themes

Themes combines chamber RIO with pop song structures and wraps it all in a warm gypsy death metal tortilla. It seems like it shouldn't work, but SSOGE pull off the production with great finesse and aplomb. Just listen to Winter Queen or Lovin' On The Earth if ya don't believe...this is some seriously catchy stuff!!

Themes

Forgotten Silence - Thots

There is a definitive strain of Czechslovakian death metal that carries romantic sensibilities...I'm not talking love songs exactly, certainly  not emo...heaven forbid that. The Czechs do it up right with a mournful sense of longing and Bohemian je ne c'est quoi. Forgotten Silence is a prime example of this strain with chugging riffs, jangly guitar, church organ, marimba and fretless bass (for some reference, czech out Love History or taking it a step further, Slovakia's Lunatic Gods). Their tumultuous narrative (Thots is based on the novel and movie La Casa De Los Espiritos) corresponds with the progressive qualities that are ever present in most all these Czech bands. An ephemeral, beautiful work.

Thots

Master's Hammer - Finished Demo

Everyone knows about MH’s masterful full-lengths, but it’s their demos where the weirdness really shined. Finished is from ’88 and captures a band toying with thrash and black metal conventions and delivering something that is fucked and unpredictable. Outright primitive in execution, zaniness and evilness collide – the way it should be.

Finished

Debustrol - Vyznání Smrti

Bohemian Debustrol's demo LP from '88. Pure thrash high octane unleaded and done in the atypical Czech fashion. What you need.

Faith In Death

Neoandertals - Ebu Gogo Gutting the Child

Two piece Estonian tech death that has NO guitars!  Just bass...and a chick drummer...and she's fantastic! From their website: "Inspired by Worm & Barnes and an article released in the New Scientist...explores the dark side of the little hunter hominid Homo floresiensis, who kidnapped human children to defile and eat them"....HOLY SHIT!!! OK, if you imagine Cryptopsy's Whisper Supremacy minus all gits (with the atmosphere and production of a Blasphemy Made Flesh), you'll basically hit the Homo floresiensis on the head.

Gutting the Child

A Tribute To Master's Hammer

All your favorites and some unknowns paying tribute to the greatest Czech band that's not named Root. Featuring the likes of Sad Harmony, Forgotten Silence, Entrails, Asmodeus, Hypnotic Scenery, Insania, Dark Gambelle and many more of the Czech elite.

Tribute

Root - Black Seal

This is a highlight in Root's discography. Never before had they been this dark and technical in their approach.  A superb mixture of hellish atmosphere and progressive thrash (actually quite a few of the riffs remind me of Hell Awaits). No one can beat those wide open slightly atonal Blackosh guitars...the man is a master, how he can turn those Voivodian chords into a baroque, gothic nightmare is beyond words, and beyond me! Big Boss goes off (as usual), and special mention has to be made of Evil's drumming. I can't say enough good thing's...he's just in the pocket and oh so creative (especially during Theriak, holy shit!!) A wonderful album that reveals itself to be a true masterpiece after repeated listens.

Black Seal

Amon Goeth - Call the Master

Dr. Fe is the former vocalist of Root during their dema daze, before Big Boss got tired of sitting behind that  drumkit! On Call the Master the good doctor and his krew get loud and filthy. Motorhead meets early Root meets early Celtic Frost, or something like that. Rude and crude and mandatory.

Call the Master

Master's Hammer - Šlágry

When all were gone but two - wildness was wrought
RIO in spirit - blackness in their hearts
Genres come and go - styles flitter past
Somehow they even managed to blast Chuck Berry in the ass!
So if you want your metal with a bit of pedigree
Czech out this guilty pleasure - magnum opus - called Slagry

Slagry

Oblomov - Mighty Cosmic Dances

Great thrashin’ Czech black metal with a keen ear for melody and some saxophone that will make you smile. I really appreciate that awesome bass high in the mix…Nice!

Mighty Cosmic Dances

Entrails - Serpent Seed

Blackosh and Igor of legendary Root band teamed up with short-armed drummer Marthus (who later went on to play with Cradle of Shit among other bands) to record a totally ripping dripping black metal album chock full to the brim with some o the most awesome riffs you’ll ever hear. Where does Blackosh come up with with all these choice riffs? B’neath that elusive Bodhi tree that’s where.

Serpent Seed

Cales - The Pass In Time

Blackosh and Skunkers and Evil really hit it out of the park on this one...lush and beautiful natural metal that sounds like an even more epic sounding Viking-era Bathory. What!? Is this even possible?? Yes it is!!!

The Pass In Time

Melancholy Pessimism - Evil Planet

Even more Czech grind goodness for your pleasure. Nabbed this one over at one of my favorite new blogs Utvær!, do check that one out cuz that guy definitely posts some unique stuff...Melancholy Pessimism is cut from the same cloth as Alientation Mental, but a bit more death leaning, kind of like those other Czech hogs Pigsty from my Baconalia post a while back. Very cool, very inventive, and they play hands down the best cover of Battery I have ever heard.

Evil Planet

Alienation Mental - Ball Spouter

Crazzee ass jazz/hip-hop Czech grind madness in the vein of  Disharmonic Orchestra, early Cephalic Carnage and the Czech aesthetic. Prepare to have your ball's spouted.

Ball Spouter

Love History - Anasazi

Technical emotive mystik Metal with six members including chick soprano and choirs, acoustic guitar, synths, jew harps, bongos…add to this a mix of death metal growls, whispers and clean vox. An elegant clusterfuck.

Anasazi

Trollech - Synové Lesu

I used to listen to this one during walks in the woods. Hand to god, I’m that much of a loser. Didn’t see any trolls either…not yet at least.

Synové Lesu

Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden

Jon Schaffer, Ripper Owens and Dick Christy go all America on everybody's ass...Happy 4th Everyone!!!

Rule This Road

Agmen - Damnation

Bizarre, evil, volkeisch black metal draped in a unique cult aesthetic. The main riff of Nesmrtelny (starting 2:02) is one of the most sublime ever created, mark my words. Awesome Törr cover to boot.

Damnation

Maniac Butcher - Cerná Krev

Classick MB- chilling, vampyric and orthodox. Barbarud and Blasphemer can conjure up atmosfears like no other. Second best album the dynamic duo ever made together only being bested by the almighty Iron Fist.

Black Blood