Cales - Bonds of Togetherness

Cales first album...an absolutely magickal journey through mythical landscapes, lush guitars and unforgettable atmospheres. The blood of Hammerheart runs thick through Blackie's soul.

Bonds of Togetherness

Secrecy - Art In Motion

Technical German thrash that at it's best recalls the Baroque chordal sensibility of Blackie era Root (I'm especially reminded of Black Seal for some reason), setting this band apart even further are the Buddy Lackey-esque vocals of Peter Dartin. I love love love the solos on this album!

Art In Motion

Put Watering Cans Back In Place

Nu Master's Hammer drops this month ya'll. Mastered by Blackosh. Get excited folks!!
Listen to samples here.

Root - The Temple In The Underworld

I can think of no better album to cap off Czech Madness Month than Root's magnificent 3rd full-length from '92. This is where the band really started branching out of black metal into more classical metal territory. Big Boss crooned as never before...Blackosh slowed things down, sometimes into doom (I don't think a song like Aposiopesis happens without the influence of a band like Citron)...and perhaps most significant was the addition of a crackerjack young drummer name of Rene "Evil" Kostelnak, the drummer from Blackosh's incredibly powerful death/black/atmospheric side project Crux. Evil added such creativity to this squad of visionaries that he just pushed them over the edge into sublime waters. This may not be as complete an album as The Book or Black Seal...but the band were perfecting their craft by that point...here they are still young and hungry, biting at the chain. Hell, Big Boss still had hair!!
P.S. I've included the bonus song Prohibition in this link...one of the most kick-ass Root songs ever!!

The Temple In The Underworld

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

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

Root - Kärgeräs

What can I say about Kärgeräs. My favorite album of all time? Top 3 at least…I’m taking this one to the desert island with me that’s for damn sure (Nothingface and Fish Rising would be the other two I suppose). Unbeatable atmosphere, emotion, chops, and imagination. The absolute pinnacle of what metal can be, even when it’s hardly metal at all.

Sweet Nation Kärgeräs

Root - Live In Brno '93

Morbid ritual of Root band ano 1993. Vid not from this concert, but give's good insight into early Root in concert, back when Big Boss was still rockin' the Jerry Garcia look.

Live In Brno

Cales - Uncommon Excursion

Blackosh from Root progs out with a bunch of his friends!  Short catchy songs with polarizing vocals.

Uncommon Excursion