Czech metal and punk: from the underground to the festival fields

In communist Czechoslovakia, hair length was never only a style. It could draw the attention of the police and mark you out as a problem. Heavy metal, with its hair, leather and Western logos, arrived anyway. The scene that followed was built by teenagers with cassettes, borrowed amplifiers and a lot of stubbornness.

Here is how metal and punk took root in Czechia, the names worth looking up, and where to hear them today.

How it began

Bands that wanted to perform publicly in the 1970s and 1980s needed approval, usually through an audition called a přehrávka. Lyrics were read, names were checked and bands could be refused. Some worked within the rules, some bent them with deliberately vague lyrics, and some played in barns, village halls and rented rooms. Tapes were copied by hand and passed around, and a rare album from abroad might travel through dozens of hands.

The Plastic People of the Universe, the best-known underground band of the 1970s, showed that another path existed (their story is in the rock and indie guide). Punk and metal followed the same logic of small rooms and loyal followers.

The names

Several Czech bands built careers that lasted decades. Arakain is a heavy metal and thrash name that many local fans treat as a cornerstone. Kabát, formed in Teplice in 1983, grew into one of the biggest rock bands in the country, with a humorous hard-rock style that fills big venues. At the extreme end, Master's Hammer from Prague is often credited with helping shape early black metal in Europe around the turn of the 1990s.

Punk grew from the same pressure. The punks of the 1980s were often treated as a bigger threat than the metalheads, and they had to be inventive to stay out of trouble. After 1989 punk split in many directions: more political, more melodic, more experimental. If you speak to Czech fans of a certain age, the first foreign band they saw live is usually the start of a long story.

After 1989

The revolution changed things within months. Bands could play without audition, labels appeared and Western acts finally arrived. Czech metal and punk found bigger audiences, and some groups made peace with mainstream radio while others kept a defiant distance. Today the scene is mature. Prague venues host touring bands and local acts all year, and veterans often share a bill with newcomers. The fans are loyal, and they travel.

The festivals

For many acts in one weekend, go to a festival. Brutal Assault is a large extreme-music festival held in the Josefov fortress, in East Bohemia, and it draws fans from across Europe. Masters of Rock, in Vizovice in Moravia, leans towards classic heavy metal and hard rock. Both run in summer and both sell tickets in advance.

Prague has regular gigs by touring and local bands. Check venue listings a week or two ahead. For the night itself, staying safe at night and club entry rules are short and useful, and for the electronic side of the festival calendar there is the Prague techno guide.

Gig manners

Metal crowds are friendlier than their reputation. In the pit, people help each other up if someone falls, and the unwritten rule is to keep your arms low and respect those at the edge. Check the door and stage times on the event page, because the support band often plays early and the headliner will not wait.

Wear closed shoes, keep your bag small and carry some cash for the merch stand.

Where to start

Build a playlist from the three names above, add a punk record a record-shop clerk recommends, and read the lyrics if you can. The growling is hard to parse in any language. The background to the revolution years is in the Velvet Revolution explained.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Was heavy metal banned under communism?

Not as a blanket ban. Bands needed official approval to perform, and the authorities could refuse it. Many worked in the underground as a result.

Which Czech metal band should I try first?

Arakain for classic Czech heavy metal, Kabát for hard rock and Master's Hammer if you want something extreme.

Where is Brutal Assault held?

In the Josefov fortress, in East Bohemia. Check the festival's own site for dates and tickets.

Do I need to speak Czech to enjoy a gig?

No. The energy carries across languages, and the crowd tends to welcome visitors.

Pack the earplugs, find a spot near the sound desk and let the volume do the talking.