SYIH

So less than one year after my previous scene report from Czech {printed in MRR #267} I am here again with some updated info from my beloved country. Like always I write only about stuff, which I personally find interesting. This is by no means complete coverage of Czech scene, so feel free to direct any insults/complains towards me, you can find the adress in the end of this article.

I honestly believe that right now the Czech scene is strongest it ever was, maybe not so enthusiastic like it used to be in early/mid 90s, but for sure today’s bands are simply much better, there are tons of great gig places, labels etc. The only thing I miss are zines, there’s definitely less of them, which is just global trend, because of complete internet domination. Anyway, here we go...

There are two important factors, why there are so many Czech bands vinyls lately. We have one of the last pressing plants in the middle of Europe located right here, near Prague, and there are many small labels, who cooperate with each other. It’s quite usual to have 5, 10 or more labels sharing money together to release one seven-inch. I find it totally great, because it keeps the scene on very low-key human level and of course it is D.I.Y. to the bone.

I will now talk more about some records {not exclusively since there are few interesting CD’s and tapes as well}, which were released during the last year and which I advise you to check out. In the end you won’t probably see most of these bands live if you live outside Czech {and I am pretty sure you won’t see any of them ever if you live in the U.S.}, so with the exception of your Czech holidays – which I just strongly encourage! – records are the only way how to find out about them. I know that some of this stuff was discussed a little in my previous report and also that some of it got reviews in this mag, but I am sure that it will be interesting at least for some of you...

DREAD 101/V.I.R. split EP {Insane Society Records} – 2 years in the making, finally out in the end of 2005 just in time when both bands are pretty much dead {not 100% about V.I.R., but there was no sign of life from them after their spring 2004 UK tour}. This is masterpiece of Czech crust, which I fear will be probably forgotten/passed by most since DREAD 101 splitted up already back in 2003. You can find 2 songs by each band here, while DREAD unleash their ripping Scandi-crust/STATE OF FEAR-inluenced fury, V.I.R. goes for little more experimental approach combining their dark heavy crust with some slower almost industrial parts. Great lyrics from both, especially the V.I.R.’s militant and nihilistic visions do work quite well. Like always with Insane Society the cover art just kicks ass.

GRIDE/LAHAR split EP {14 labels cooperation, try Samuel Records} – many people stated this as the best Czech record of 2005, it was also released in the end of the year. Finally some new GRIDE stuff after few years of silence, even this time these are only cover songs! The same goes for LAHAR as both bands decided to cover the 80’s, 90’s and current hardcore bands from their area. GRIDE plays their unique brand of extreme HC even faster than before, the drums are simply inhumane! LAHAR sounds great as well with their HELLNATION/YACOPSAE wall of fastcore, but played super-tight. Some of the covered bands are TELEX {80’s hardcore legends}, SERIOUS MUSIC {90’s grindcore legends} and of course that both bands do cover each other. The cover art is really beatiful with huge drawing of both bands facing each other live {pictured by LAHAR’s bassplayer who is great tattoo artist} and with an extensive local HC scene history written both in Czech and English. By the way GRIDE have finally their website ready {www.gride.wz.cz} and right now they record for split EP w/LYCANTHROPHY which should be out soon on Insane Society.

LAHAR/IDIOT SAVANT split 10” {many labels cooperation, there were jus 300 copies so I think it’s sold out now, but you can try Samuel too}- for pretty long time we have waited for some vinyl by LAHAR! The rumours about full EP on 625 Prod. still didn’t materialized, but now there are two records in almost same while! LAHAR’s side of the split 10” is just blazing extreme HC tornado, again super-clean and super-tight. IDIOT SAVANT from Germany play 3 songs of dark, depressive HC w/dual male x female vocals, they are pretty good too. Nice cover art as well, again from Robert/LAHAR.

GUIDED CRADLE LP {Damage Done Rec. for vinyl, Insane Society Rec. for CD and Gasmask Rec. for tape verison} – this international band based in Prague just went straight for the throat with this debut LP released only year after their very first show. Kind of brave step and not many bands can pull this off in the end, but it seems they were successful as the record became an instant hit not only in Czech. The first press is right now sold out, 2^nd one should be out very soon. Heavy arse-ripping crust w/huge old UK and new Portland crust influences, maybe some WOLFBRIGADE as well. Very powerfull sound! Nice cover art w/some trolls or mutants attacking the cop car. Their first European tour will take the place in April/May, check out the www.guidedcradle.com for dates. Split EP w/German INSTINCT OF SURVIVAL is in the works.

MALIGNANT TUMOUR “Burn In Hell” LP {CD and tape available as well, all formats released by Insane Society} – I have already raved a lot about this new M. T. stuff last time, but now I have the full LP in my hands {there’s is also limited version of 66 copies in fake leather available!}, so I should probably write more. It is really good shit if you are into 80’s German thrash metal w/some Scandinavian {UNCURBED, DISFEAR...} crust parts and little of MOTÖRHEAD as well. Definitely great band for parties, very funny to watch live on the stage! On the other hand it can be a little embarassing for the fans of their previous styles {they are going strong since earliest 90’s and went through “gore-grind” phase, “mince-core phase” and “political-crust” phase before} and I am personally pretty much disappointed with their decision to make a video for Czech version of MTV. They are definitely more metal band now, both in music and attitude and I think that it suits them best. Good luck to them... M.T. played one gig in Ukraina last year and for this year the 2^nd UK tour and split EP w/British G.I.S.M.’s imitators GURKHA are in the works, EP again on Insane Society. Check out www.insanesociety.net/malignant.

HOMO CONSUMENS/YARVAR COOCHA split EP {Malarie Rec.} – 3^rd split EP from HOMO CONSUMENS and probably the best one, really noisy train-wreck demolition-alike sound and raw music in the vein of WRETCHED, IMPACT and other ancient Italian bands... even few mid-tempo punky parts, it sounds great! I don’t like YARVAR COOCHA so much, while their share the bassplayer w/H.C., their music is just more “controlled” and really nothing so special to write home about, just rocking hardcore/punk with male and female vocals... maybe like DISAFFECT? The cover art sucks, but I strongly encourage you to get this if only for the HOMO CONSUMENS side. The band is just totally inactive since their 2^nd UK tour w/SEE YOU IN HELL in September 2005 and their bass-player is leaving too, so this can be their swan-song...

FESTA DESPERATO “Novy Babylon” EP {many labels cooperation, try Gasmask or you can write to me as well} – I know that it’s not very safe to talk about record which wasn’t released yet, but since this is in the pressing plant right now when I write these sentences {so it will be definitely out right in the time you read this} and since I put some money into this release as well with my {from early 90’s rehashed} label and got the advance CDr, I will write more about it. This is probably my fave Czech band right now, not because we share the same rehearsal room {we share it with some of the best bands in Czech today anyway including BASTO and ZEMEZLUC! hahaha}, but because their raw distorted punk just kills! Think energy and raw sound of bands like FRAMTID or DISCLOSE and some heavy and dark harmonies of some popular Portland bands {but in only small doses!} and you have FESTA DESPERATO. This is just huge wall of brutal music!

FESTA DESPERATO “Zivot ve hrichu” tape {Gasmask label} – released just few months ago, this is the debut recording of their new line-up {there are 2 other recordings of FESTA, one of them released as “...prvnich” tape back in 2003 and 2^nd one remains still unreleased}, not much to add to the descriprion above... different songs than on the full EP and different sound {not so heavy, but still good}. By the way check out their website too: www.festadesperato.com.

MASSGENOCIDE PROCESS/VISIONS OF WAR split LP {and now CD and tape as well, both with some bonus songs, try Impregnate Noise Laboratories for this} – I know this is not the newest one, but at least the CD version was released right now I think that in cooperation with some French labels {Fight For Your Mind and Maloka I think}, so let’s talk about it as well. M.G.P. assaults you with their heavy downtuned crust/metal w/some pretty brutal vocals, their music is 100% influenced by Scandinavian crust, it’s nothing so original but I like them a lot neverthless. Their Belgian partners on the other side disappointed me a little after the killer split LP w/OLHO DE GATO, this stuff is not so intense, it’s more crust-punk oriented this time, w/not so strong sound. But it’s nothing to be ashamed of and their DISCHARGE cover in the end rips! Foldout cover, poster and patches, lots of work went into this release! By the way there's new line-up {singer left, 2nd guitar added} and new website of M.G.P. {www.masscrust.wz.cz}.

SPES EREPTA EP {many labels cooperation, try Phobia Rec.}- same thing as w/FESTA DESPERATO, the record is right now in pressing plant and I was again blessed with free promo copy! This Prague’s and Czech’s only vegan straight edge crust band didn’t convinced me so much live, but I was blown away by this recording! Very intense and heavy anthemic crust, very WORLD BURNS TO DEATH/SEVERED HEAD OF STATE-inlfuenced. Also great studio recording! I can’t comment much on this release since I haven’t seen the cover art, but the singer told me that it’s gonna be something very luxurious w/silver print and some other shit. Definitely recommended!

NOT/UNLEASH split CD {Rage Dis Records}- finally some new stuff from NOT, who play for almost 10 years, the new stuff is much less INFEST-influenced than in the old times, today it's more like a crash beween some spaztic emo-violence ala ORCHID and grindcore... I don't know better description, sorry! UNLEASH from Japan play the typical Japanese raw thrashcore full of energy, definitely a great surprise!

INNOXIA CORPORA “K Certu” LP {more labels and the band itself cooperation, try Impregnate or Malarie} – this band became an instant classic after their first LP and this 2^nd one is probably even better. Definitely not as fast and intense like their debut, but w/more hooks and great melodies. Both guitar-players work out their instruments so good and they definitely come with some very catchy songs. It’s kind of “retro-punk” style w/huge power and energy, the kind of stuff many people reading this mag go mad for. It’s right in the same league with bands like FUCKED UP, OBSERVERS or REGULATIONS {which doesn’t mean that they would sound the same, just the vibe is similar}, you can hear some 80’s Czech or Polish punk influences as well. While I compared most of the above-mentioned Czech bands to some of their more popular foreign counterparts, INNOXIA is pretty unique band w/this classic Eastern European sound, so if you search for something more original, try this. Website: www.innoxia-corpora.wz.cz.

MAC GYVER EP {more labels, try Malarie} – similar to INNOXIA CORPORA but not so good {but in this style - who is?}, again some rocking punk this time w/more dark and moody melodies. Quite over-looked band and sadly not very active... But I have heard something about MAC GYVER/PAZI SNAJPER {P.Z. was the band who splitted up few years ago and MAC GYVER started on it’s ashes, they still have some unrelased recordings} split EP planned. I recommend to find this platter somewhere as it may disappear soon and it’s again some pretty cool and original stuff.

GREX/POSLEDNI PRANI MRTVEHO HUMANISTY split tape {Impregnate Noise Laboratories} – fuck, is there something more odd and un-hip than raw grind/noise bands in 2005?!? Fuck no! And I seriously doubt this mag is widely read by fans of early 90’s German noisecore acts like W.B.I., STERBEHILFE or BARCASS or some classic stuff like 7 M.O.N.!!! {Do people like this even exist today?}. Anyway GREX plays some raw grind/crust chaos with 2 singers and very political lyrics, not so bad stuff, but P.P.M.H. {which stands for “Last Wish Of Dead Humanist”} just blow them away with no less than 39 explosions of intense noisecore. But fear not – both bands did recorded in real studio and the sound is just great. In the end both remind me some noisy South American stuff {another odd choice of hip stuff for today – fuck off!}, GREX sounds a bit like ROT and P.P.M.H. like early RUIDO DE ODIO. P.P.M.H. side comes with some funny intros as well, but most of the lyrics are pretty serious w/some heavy emphasis on anarchist theories. They are translated to English, Polish, German and French and the whole cover comes as booklet printed on recycled paper in the size of seven inch. Tapes are factory printed too, so it’ just highest quality product! P.P.M.H. have recently recorded for some future split EP and during the session the singer got his chest-muscle screwed while recordig the vocals and ambulance had to be called! Really! So you see that their “music” is very intense and life-threatenning!

DEMARCHE “Promo 2005” CDr – I am not sure if it is widely available, but if you write them, I am sure they will be happy to burn a copy for you. 5 songs of driving crusty punk w/raw sound, which suits them pretty well. They toured UK last summer, but have no official releases out {with the exception of comp. CD – more info below} and are also almost unknown ouside Prague. I was pleasantly surprised by their recording, make sure to check out www.demarche.tk

Some records are in the works and should be out very soon or are already out, but I haven’t heard them yet. These are: ZEMEZLUC “Live Puntalla Rock 2005” 10” {powerfull punk rock from my hometown, released on colour vinyl by Ultima Ratio right now}, NEEDFUL THINGS “Dead Point” CD {their debut album, blazing grindcore, I wait for the vinyl version which should be out on Impregnate, check out www.needfulthings.wz.cz}, PRUMYSLOVA SMRT/KOBRA XI split EP {furious extreme HC w/machine-gun drumming vs. raw chaotic HC/metal, still in the works, I will corelease it as well, out in May just for PRUMYSLOVA SMRT European tour, check out www.prumyslovasmrt.wz.cz for dates}, v/a “Bones Of Prague” CD {Emergency Records, raw punk/crust bands compilation from the capital city w/GUIDED CRADLE, DEMARCHE, A-BRIGADE and couple more on Emergency Record}, STOLEN LIVES/TIME OF MY LIFE split EP {in the works too, my band just played w/STOLEN LIVES 2 weeks ago and we were blown away by their HIGHSCORE/D.S. 13 full on energy style, very young and promising band, they even threw “Which Side?” by INFEST in the end of their set. Check out www.stolenlivesband.com! I will most probably put some money into this release as well, so write me for more info, I haven’t heard TIME OF MY LIFE from Slovakia yet, but it should be very similar style}, HIBAKUSHA "Morula" CD {I think it's their 2nd full length, I haven't heard it yet, but they have played some powerful grinding crustcore before and I am sure they still stick to it, check out www.hibakusha.webz.cz}.

Also LYCANTHROPY, THEMA 11 and SEE YOU IN HELL will have most probably their new LP’s out in 2006, so watch out for more info... Also the long-awaited Czech bands “Tribute To INFEST” com. EP on Impregnate should be out this year {w/GRIDE, LAHAR, STOLEN LIVES, MASSGENOCIDE PROCESS and some more} on Impregnate Noise Laboratories.

Speaking about compilations some of us here in Brno feel that right now is the highest time to document a part of our local scene on compilation LP, so this may see the light of the day in 2006 as well {w/BASTO, FESTA DESPERATO, SCARTO, RISPOSTA, SEE YOU IN HELL and maybe some more incl. my dead and gone band MRTVA BUDOUCNOST - recordings which were supposed to be released exactly 10 years ago on Japanese D.I.Y. Records label!}. I will keep you posted about this huge project, which should include detailed history of local scene w/tons of photos and huge poster/flyer gallery since 1987 until today.

BASTO from Brno are right now in studio recording for possible full EP and maybe that for the above-mentioned comp. LP as well. They were supposed to split up and played their “farewell” gig on our annual “Killed By Brno Fest”, but they played few more gigs after it, so I am not sure about their current status. I am looking for their studio recordings since they use the same studio and sound-engineer as GUIDED CRADLE and live they are just amazing w/their riotous raw punk in the vein of 80’s Finnish bands! Contact them through Ultima Ratio adress.

The same goes for SCARTO, who should record also very soon, although I am absolutely not sure on which format it’s gona be released. They opened the “Killed By Brno Fest” {by the way BASTO closed it on the other hand} and surprised everybody with their tight and furious thrash/grind with some slow and heavy parts. Quite original band! Contact again through Ultima Ratio.

Our United Crusties gig collective did couple of shows since summer 2005. There were FUCKED UP and BORN/DEAD gigs in the beginning of September, both with surprisingly low turn out of only 50-60 people. We were even more surprised that for the next gig, CATHETER in November, we got around 100 people, which was great! It seems that people are quite hungry for old school grindcore here... Also SOTATILA from Wien played with them and managed to turn the club into total chaos w/their authentic Finnish raw punk {there is even an original Finnish citizen behind the mike, so no wonder about it!}. For December our hopes were high for the 3^rd annual “Killed By Brno Fest” this time w/nine bands {from Czech only, like every year}. It was quite wild night w/few of the different band’s singers wounded and part of the drums destroyed during the BASTO’s set – but all in very friendly manner! I was personally blown away by BASTO’s and SCARTO’s sets most, also GRIDE, DEZINFEKCE and IDIOT CRUSOE {local undergound legends from early 90’s} were excellent. SPES EREPTA, DEGENERACE and RABIES played too, so it was very loud event! SEE YOU IN HELL attacked the stage dressed as Samurais {with the label boss Barvak dressed as Sumo-fighter} and jumped straight into the “Distort Japan” cover song by GAUZE, so it was a huge riot and one of our best gigs of the last year too. If you plan to visit Czech anytime this year, make it for December 2006 and come to Brno to our next fest!

SEE YOU IN HELL have the “Umet se prodat/Market Your Self” LP/CD re-released in Indonesia {on Ibuku Diperkoza}, Croatia {on Twisted Justice} and Mexico {on Cryptas} – all these versions are already out and available for very cheap price if you live in these parts of the world. The Brazilian version {w/some video bonus} will be out in March on Usina De Sangue. In April/May we are leaving for Japanese tour as the first Czech punk band ever {and probably just the second one from the former Eastern Bloc after Polish DEZERTER}. The dates/places are following: 4/28 Tokyo@Koiwa - Em 7, 4/29 Miyagi - Sendai Flyes House, 4/30 Tokyo@Kichioji - Warp, 5/1 Mie@Ise - Question, 5/2 Osaka - Namba Bears, 5/3 Kochi - Kochi Feet, 5/4 Okayama@Kurashiki, 5/5 Nagoya@Imaike - Huck Finn, 5/6 Tokyo@Hachioji - Rinky Dink Studio, 5/7 Tokyo - Koenji 20000V. The tour is organized by Shingo of Too Circle Records and I am not writing the other bands names {I even can not use the word „support bands“ as it would sound so silly!} down here as some of you would be probably a little bit jelaous with me. Check out the website if you care.

Right now I work on issue 26 of my zine called Hluboka Orba, it should be out in July, again it will be more than 150 pages thick, full page format book {in soft-cover}, w/around 800-1.000 copies of print run. Written in Czech only w/lots of D.I.Y. hardcore/punk stuff from all over the world. You can send your stuff for review if you want, but make sure to do it before April 15th, so it would reach me in time {the zine has new issue out only once in a year}

Hluboka Orba Records have the MRTVA BUDOUCNOST „Best Shots 97-99“ tape {2nd part of our discography, on professional tapes}, FESTA DESPERATO „Novy Babylon“ EP, LAMANT tape {furious thrash/punk from Belarus, it includes their 2 demos + the old project band of their singer called SELFSHIT, on professional tapes again} and soon also the PRUMYSLOVA SMRT/KOBRA XI split EP available, also all the SEE YOU IN HELL stuff. Write me for trades, usually I am interested, if it’s something into raw punk, crust, extreme HC or some exotic stuff. I am not so picky about trades like some other labels who became „too successful“ or „too big“.

Thanx a lot for reading through this, if you need more info or contacts, don’t hesitate to get in touch {but no, I DON’T book gigs for emo, tough guy metal, Fat Wreck kind of „punk rock“ or for similar kind of music, try somebody else...and also I don’t review it in my zine, so let’s save both my and your time}. Bye!