Being a massive fan of Master’s Hammer, Root and a bunch of other Czech bands, I was really looking forward to checking out this apparent lost gem. The double-album is to be released on Sweden’s I Hate Records, one CD including the Czech and one the English version of the same album (which, we’re told, greatly vary in sound). Reviewers such as myself apparently only receive the Czech version.
The album starts promisingly. A mix of a vinyl-player being switched from 33 rpm to 44 rpm, followed with some orchestral singing and then finally kicking into the first track with a classic doomish Heavy Metal riff and a Czech production. Vocals are in Czech and very dark and evil-sounding/ half spoken. The first few moments are certainly impressive and I want to hear more. And that I get as a sweet atmospheric lead/solo kicks in. Then the song plummets though and seemingly nothing interesting happens after this.
The second track jumps in with a faster thrashy riff armed with some groove, which brings hope. There are certain glimpses of interesting and innovative touches on the guitars that we are used from them Czechs, but it doesn’t quite carry the album. By track 4 or so we still get glimpses of brilliance, but that’s sort of all there’s to it. It doesn’t develop from there… and we’re still left with half the album to listen to.
Then comes ‘Crazy Boy’, which totally breaks the dark concept of the album. On the original vinyl this track was the opener of the B-side. I can only imagine what a shock someone must have gotten when thirty seconds into the album a chorus kicks in and a clean singing voice sings (totally off key) repeats the song-titles… a lot of times. Oh well, at least it made for some variation. It’s a shame really; some of the riffs/sections here are very good indeed. The same goes for the following song, it’s got some awesome ideas, but it never really reaches its full potential. Maybe it doesn’t intend to, maybe I’m missing out something?
To conclude, I don’t really think it’s an important piece of metal history (as the press-sheet proclaims). I don’t think its ‘obscure’ enough to be considered something outstanding, either. Too little too late? Being from 1990, it’s definitely before its time. The problem with this album is that it never challenges itself to much of a degree. It’s there, but not that much happens. However, whilst it’s not a classic unfishable jewel of Eastern European heritage, it really isn’t a bad album either. There’s a certain sense of satisfaction listening to this old coven. The album might be quite a mess and a lot of it may sound unfinished, but there’s a charm here. I enjoy it more than most mainstream things out there and by every listen I change my mind slightly. I guess check it out yourself… it’s definitely got the ‘cool’-factor, hah.
http://www.ihate.se
Miika Virtanen
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