What do you do when your band reaches it’s 25th anniversary? Well in the case of Czech group Avenger, split them up and change their name due to friction among the ranks. No doubt the full story is an interesting one but does not seem to be readily available. Whatever occurred, rising from the ashes are 5 members of Avenger now going by the name Bohemyst and declaring themselves “the heirs to Master’s Hammer,’ some ex-members of that band are also included in the ranks.
With the album title translating to Black Death one is assured that the time is right to unleash this album in the times of plague and delve into it rather than trying to decipher more of its background origins and getting further tied in knots. I am sure that those bangers who have followed the storied career of the previous band’s history can fill in the gaps themselves but for the rest of us it is the music that counts. After a short intro brings dread and is evocative of Christopher Young’s Hellraiser we are eased into the delicious darkness of the title track which gradually rears up with a ferocious scream and sets about melodically entwining us in blackness. Juddering beats and riffs suddenly raise the tempo and low deathly growls are delivered as a counterpoise to the main ravenous ghastly, rasping shrieks. I would call it more-black than death in essence and it has a heavy yet at times graceful atmosphere and is not afraid to deliver a flailing guitar solo amidst the heavyset density that is manifested. Radek Popel seems to have been a late addition to the cult of Avenger, joining just before their demise and puts on a sterling vocal performance here. As we fly into the next ‘blood’ bound track things get absolutely venomous and horror is added via some spooky keyboard sounds as the drums drive things heavily on a mad and frantic dash. The guitar playing is vigorous and again some soloing adds to the carnage, whatever has happened prior to this the players seem to be entrenched in what they are doing and fully co-ordinated in their attack. Eerie sounds and grotesque growls pepper the slower parts as this plague spreads across the land and the first half of the album is a solid example of atmosphere and dread which reels the listener in to its depths proffering more on each consecutive listen.
However, if anything the second half ups the game and does so on ‘Kosti’ (Bones) due to the fantastic stabbing keyboard raptures and galloping rhythms making one imagine a skeletal headless horseman dashing through the forests infecting each community he passes on the way. Full of drama and crashing timpani rolls it’s a smashing song and once heard will have you totally addicted and awaiting its arrival eagerly on repeat plays. As for the following number ‘Co Nelze Zapomenout’ (What Can’t Be Forgotten) what an absolutely venomous and scathing blast of fury. There’s time for a breath with the nekromantik piano strains of ‘Nekromantika’ and wreathes are laid and bodies buried in sackcloth and ashes, we even get some clean croons particularly effective in their natural tongue and xylophone playing the danse macabre. Laying ruination Bohemyst bring the album to conclusion with whiplashing heaviness that is devilishly spiteful and having cast this plague upon the land leave us contemplating our own uncertain futures.
One thing is for sure, even if you are not versed in the historic path this is rooted in, Čerň A Smrt is an album that is highly worthy of your attention.
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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