Krabathor

One of the Czech Republic's first heavy metal bands, Krabathor was founded in 1984, when it was still Czechoslovakia. Inspired by German thrash metal groups like Kreator and Destruction, who were among the few artists to regularly tour behind the Iron Curtain in those days, Christopher (guitar, vocals), Bruno (bass, vocals), and Havran managed to record a few obscure demos before being called into military duty in 1988. Their responsibilities fulfilled, the first two resurrected Krabathor in 1991 with new drummer Kopec, and recorded their first English-speaking demo, "Feelings of Dethronisation," which also signaled their evolution away from thrash and towards death metal. A deal with the Czech Monitor label resulted in two albums: 1992's Only Our Death Is Welcome, and 1993's Cool Mortification before the band moved on to German Morbid Records in search of better distribution. Drummer Skull joined at this time, and Krabathor carried on building their fan-base throughout the ‘90's with releases such as Lies (1995), Mortal Memories (E.P., 1997), Orthodox (1998), and Unfortunately Dead (2000). The last saw longtime bassist Bruno replaced by ex-Master man Paul Speckmann.