Root

Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic) had some pretty important bands back when black metal was getting started.  Törr, Master's Hammer, and the rather unique ROOT, coming from the city of Brno, are the most noteworthy.  Not a lot of countries can claim three important old-school black metal bands making an impact on the scene before 1990.  Root formed in 1987 and began putting out demos in 1988--including War of Rats and Reap of Hell.

Off of the 1988 demo Reap of Hell, this is "Pisen Pro Satana"

After two more demos in 1989 (Messengers From Darkness and The Trial), Root put out their first full-length studio album with 1990's Zjeveni.  Root's style was always less about pure, primitive speed and more about an evil atmosphere.  Their particular type of black metal never felt like the speed/thrash-oriented sound of the Venoms, the Sodoms, the Bulldozers, the Sarcofagos.  There was a doomier, more meticulous quality to their style.

"Aralyon"--off of Zjeveni--highlights their unique style

Root never lived up to the expectations of the black metal underground.  Their song structures, vocal style, and even riffing clearly had the evil rawness of black metal, but differed sharply from the expected nonetheless.  The unique evilness that is Root continued on such albums as Hell Symphony (1991) and Temple of the Underground (1992).  From 1996's Kargeras and onwards, Root began to branch out from black metal significantly and venture into more conceptual and progressive territory.

"Lucifer" is from 1991's Hell Symphony

Select Discography

War of Rats (demo) (1988)

Reap of Hell (demo) (1988)

Messengers from Darkness (demo) (1989)

The Trial (demo) (1989)

Zjevení (full-length) (1990)

Hell Symphony (full-length) (1991)

The Revelation (full-length) (1991)

Temple of the Underground (full-length) (1992)

Kargeras (full-length) (1996)

Next time: NECROMANTIA