I’ve heard some weird shit this year, admittedly, I hear weird shit every year because that’s what I look for on promo day. Weird shit.

Well, I got super excited this last time because guess what I got? The promo from the Czechian legends, Master’s Hammer, entitled Maldorör Disco… YEAH, BOY!

I’m about to admit that I thought they had broken up… I was wrong as I could be, though. They are still active. Fascinator was their last release back in 2018, and fuck me running; where was I when all that was being released? Doesn’t matter, I am now about to tell you my opinion on Maldorör Disco and then go listen to the stuff I’ve missed.

There are going to be people complaining that this isn’t a Black Metal album from the get-go. The same was said for Samael when they started going Techno on the fantastic Passages album, and then they perfected the sound on Eternal (especially the hard-hitting “I”).

But I’m reviewing Master’s Hammer and the ‘is it/isn’t it, Black Metal’? Maldorör Disco and I can’t help loving the fuck out of it. My first exposure to these crazy Prague natives was Jilemnický okultista (1992), the follow-up to Ritual (1991). Yeah, it’s been a minute, but fortunately, the internet exists, and it’s decidedly easier to find shit than it was in 1992.

“Andel Slizu” is the banging first track, it’s phenomenal European Techno that sounds more like The Electric Hellfire Club and their offshoot My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult. It’s bright and energetic, but there’s a darkness emanating from the center that screams Black Metal. It’s so much fun, and maybe I shouldn’t be saying that about a Black Metal album, but fuck it.

“Genesis P. Oridge” is a tribute to the former Current 93 member, who is a legend in their own right and it’s another banger. I can almost guarantee that if a DJ took this album to a club and played it that people would go ape shit over it. There’s Metal riffing, pounding drums that merge Black Metal and Techno on the fly, and it is fucking great.

The dismal fun continues with “Take It or Leave It” and since they don’t sing in English, I don’t have any idea what they are saying. But this song kind of sets the tone for the next few tracks, and it is more of a shift to Wumpscut and KMFDM. “Maldoror Disco”, “Bochnatky” and “Beast Within” pulse with the brutal heartbeat of Black Metal, all while pounding out some killer Dark Wave in the process.

“Bicycle Day” is my favorite name for a track on a Black Metal album… ever. This one is a bit brighter, like someone gave it a flower, the flower died, and that’s where this song lives, depressed as fuck but wearing a smile, of course, it’s a banger, as well. But they all are, and that’s the magic carpet ride that Master’s Hammer takes us on for Maldorör Disco, and it’s 41:51 runtime.

Final three tracks “Doppelganger” with its feeling of coiled menace, “El Teide” that bangs along with reckless abandon, and finally “Slatina”, the trippy as fuck finale. Not only is there that prevailing wind of in-your-face Hardcore Techno laced with some killer riffing, and this a background melody that echoes Korpiklaani at times.

I love Maldorö Disco. You might not, which is fine. If you like Master’s Hammer, you should know by now to expect weird, challenging music. This is a mind-bending trip, and if you like those bands that I mentioned earlier, then you will feel the way I do. So go get this, drop some acid, and let the music take you.

[Visit the band's website]

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