{{short description|Czech black metal band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = group_or_band | name = Master's Hammer | image = Master's Hammer Party.San Metal Open Air 2018 05.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = Master's Hammer performing in 2018 | alias = | origin = Prague, Czech Republic | genre = Black metal, experimental metal | years_active = {{hlist|1983–1995|2009–2020|2025–present}} | label = {{hlist|Kron-H|Osmose|Jihosound Records}} | website = | current_members = * František Štorm * Tomáš Kohout * Jan Kapák * Kamil Princ | past_members = * Honza Přibyl * Petr Mecák * Petr Hošek * Karel Zástěra * František Fečo * Milan Fibiger * Oldřich Liška * Tomáš Vendl * Míla Křovina * Mirek Valenta * Vlastimil Voral | module = {{Infobox | child = yes | header1 = | headerstyle = background:#b0c4de | data2 = 240px }} }}
'''Master's Hammer''' is a Czech black metal band formed in Prague in 1983.<ref>{{cite book|last=Christe|first=Ian|title=Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Meta|year=2004|publisher=It Books|isbn=0380811278|pages=253–254, 353|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWRv3E59V0YC&q=%22master%27s+hammer%22&pg=PA253}}</ref> They were active, with several lineup changes, until 1995, and again from 2009 until 2020. They have released eight studio albums, five demos, one EP, two split albums, two live albums, and several compilations.
==History== Master's Hammer was founded in 1983 and produced five demos, before releasing their debut album, ''Ritual.'', in 1991. The Polish extreme metal band Behemoth covered the song "Jáma pekel" on their 2008 EP, ''Ezkaton''. A year later, Master's Hammer issued their sophomore record, ''Jilemnický okultista''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bohemia's forests are lovely, black and deep: Master's Hammer – The Jilemnice Occultist (Osmose Prod., 1992) |url=https://pervertedplaylist.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/masters-hammer-the-jilemnice-occultist-osmose-prod-1992/ |website=pervertedplaylist.wordpress.com |access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref>
Their third album, ''Šlágry'', which came out in 1995, was a shift away from their previous work and incorporated a variety of styles outside the metal genre. At the time, the band announced that ''Šlágry II'' and a forthcoming CD-ROM would rely more on professional opera singers and orchestra musicians,<ref name="cmjmay1996">{{cite news|title=Riffs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OS0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22master%27s+hammer%22+Prague&pg=RA1-PT24|accessdate=10 September 2012|newspaper=CMJ New Music Monthly|date=May 1996}}</ref> although neither materialized, and the band broke up the same year. Ukrainian black metal band Drudkh covered the track "Indiánská píseň hrůzy" on their 2010 EP, ''Slavonic Chronicles'',<ref>{{cite news|title="Indiánská píseň hrůzy" (Master's Hammer cover) |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/16534-drudkh-indianska-pisen-hruzy-masters-hammer-cover/ |website=pitchfork.com |date=17 January 2014 |access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref> and included it on their 2014 compilation album, ''Eastern Frontier in Flames''.
In 2009, Master's Hammer reformed and released ''Mantras'', their first record in 14 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Master's Hammer |url=http://www.deafsparrow.com/masters-hammer-interview.htm |website=deafsparrow.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709005302/http://www.deafsparrow.com/masters-hammer-interview.htm |access-date=28 October 2023|archive-date=9 July 2011 }}</ref> In late 2012, a fifth album, called ''Vracejte konve na místo.'', was released. It was awarded Best Hard and Heavy Album at that year's Anděl Awards<ref>{{cite news|title=Výsledky ročníků cen Anděl |url=https://andelceny.cz/ |website=andelceny.cz |access-date=28 October 2023 |language=cs |trans-title=Anděl Awards yearly results}}</ref> and Best Album at the Břitva Awards.<ref>{{cite news|title=Výsledky 2012 |url=http://www.cenybritva.cz/vysledky-2012/ |website=cenybritva.cz |access-date=28 October 2023 |language=cs |trans-title=2012 results}}</ref>
In July 2013, Master's Hammer formed their own record label, called Jihosound Records, under which they released their sixth studio album in 2014, titled ''Vagus Vetus''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rottinghill.eu/interviews/interview_ov/318 |title=Interview: Master's Hammer (November 2014) |access-date=15 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614124721/http://www.rottinghill.eu/interviews/interview_ov/318 |archive-date=14 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 30 May 2016, they published their seventh studio album, ''Formulæ'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/album.php?album_id=88825&band_id=4587&bandname=Master&|title=Master's Hammer – Formulae – Metal Storm|website=Metalstorm.net|accessdate=7 October 2020}}</ref> which again won the Best Hard and Heavy Album prize at the Anděl Awards.<ref>{{cite news|title=Výsledky ročníků cen Anděl |url=https://andelceny.cz/ |website=andelceny.cz |access-date=29 October 2023 |language=cs |trans-title=Anděl Awards yearly results}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=V žánrových Andělech uspěla Lenny, projekt dné nebo kapela Pio Squad |url=https://www.idnes.cz/kultura/hudba/zanrove-ceny-andel-2016-lenny-dne-pio-squad.A170517_122745_hudba_vha |website=idnes.cz |date=17 May 2017 |access-date=29 October 2023 |language=cs |trans-title=Lenny, the project dné, and the band Pio Squad win Anděl genre awards}}</ref>
On 8 December 2016, the band announced on their Facebook page that they were scheduled to play at the Brutal Assault festival in August 2017, their first live performance in 25 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/MastersHammerOfficial/posts/562042427320206|title=Master's Hammer|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=7 October 2020}}</ref>
In February 2018, Master's Hammer released their eighth studio album, ''Fascinator''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/MastersHammerOfficial/posts/741991912658589|title=Master's Hammer|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=7 October 2020}}</ref>
Former bassist Tomáš "Monster" Vendl died on 26 July 2024, at the age of 52.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zemřel bývalý basista Master's Hammer. Kapely, která změnila svět tvrdé hudby |url=https://minutovezpravy.cz/clanek/zemrel-byvaly-basista-masters-hammer-kapely-ktera-zmenila-svet-tvrde-hudby/ |website=minutovezpravy.cz |date=26 July 2024 |access-date=27 July 2024 |language=cs |trans-title=The former bassist of Master's Hammer, which changed the world of heavy music, has died.}}</ref> Later that year, founding member and band leader František Štorm confirmed in an interview that the group had officially disbanded in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Master's Hammer – Interview |url=https://metalbite.com/interviews/2785/masters-hammer-with-franta-%C5%A1torm-vocals |website=metalbite.com |date=27 November 2024 |access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref>
In October 2025, the band announced that they had reunited and would be releasing their ninth studio album, ''Maldorör Disco'', on 26 November.<ref>{{cite web|author=Vaim Hull|url=https://www.grimmgent.com/masters-hammer-set-release-date-for-new-album-and-reveal-first-track/|title=Master's Hammer set release date for new album and reveal first track|website=Grimm Gent|access-date=16 October 2025|date=4 October 2025}}</ref>
==Musical style and influences== Master's Hammer incorporate symphonic elements into their music.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Schticky |first=Kenny |date=2023-06-20 |title=10 Unconventional Band Shirts That'll Get You High-Fived by Strangers |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/06/20/10-unconventional-band-shirts-thatll-get-you-high-fived-by-strangers/ |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}}</ref> ''Kerrang!'' magazine described the band's style as "fusing thrash with classical themes", and ''Jilemnický okultista'' was called "an operetta in three acts".<ref>Lee Barrett: ''The Black Metal Directory''. In: ''Kerrang!'', no. 436, 27. March 1993, p. 46.</ref> The band was initially influenced by early extreme metal bands like Venom, Mercyful Fate, and Hellhammer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Master's Hammer Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & ... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/masters-hammer-mn0000321980 |access-date=13 March 2026 |website=AllMusic}}</ref>
When asked about ''Ritual'', Fenriz, the drummer of Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone, joked that the album "is actually the first Norwegian black metal album, even though they are from Czechoslovakia".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.myspace.com/officialdarkthrone/blog/519327311 |title=Darkthrone Biography and Video Clips von Darkthrone bei Myspace |access-date=11 May 2013 |archive-date=7 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707170540/http://www.myspace.com/officialdarkthrone/blog/519327311 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The sound on the album has drawn comparisons to Mayhem, Emperor, and Darkthrone.<ref name=":1" />
On 1995's ''Šlágry'', the band "virtually abandoned the operatic black metal of previous releases in favor of modernist electronic music" and "shares publishing credits with Carl Czerny, Otto Katz, and Giuseppe Verdi, mixing bits of metal, folk, and ''musique concrète'' into a style based on the classical avant-garde".<ref name="cmjmay1996" /> 14 years later, Master's Hammer returned to their previous black metal style on ''Mantras''.
==Band members== '''Current''' * František "Franta" Štorm – vocals, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums {{small|(1983–1995, 2009–2020, 2025–present)}} * Tomáš "Necrocock" Kohout – electric guitar {{small|(1989–1992, 2009–2020, 2025–present)}} * Jan "Honza" Kapák – drums {{small|(2011–2012, 2016–2020, 2025–present)}} * Kamil Princ – keyboards {{small|(2025–present)}}
'''Past''' * Milan "Bathory" Fibiger – bass guitar {{small|(1983–1989)}} * František "Ferenc" Fečo – drums {{small|(1983–1989)}} * Honza "Silenthell" Přibyl – timpani {{small|(1989–1992, 2009–2015, 2017–2020)}} * Míla Křovina – electric guitar {{small|(1988–1989)}} * Ulric For (Oldřich "Olda" Liška) – timpani {{small|(1988)}} * Carles R. Apron (Karel Zástěra) – timpani {{small|(1989)}}, drums {{small|(1989–1990)}} * Vlastimil "Vlasta" Voral – keyboards {{small|(1990–1995, 2009)}} * Tomáš "Monster" Vendl – bass guitar {{small|(1990–1992, 2009)}} * Miroslav "Mirek" Valenta – drums {{small|(1990–1992)}} * Petr "Blackie" Hošek – electric guitar {{small|(2017–2020)}} * Petr "Rámus" Mecák – bass guitar {{small|(2017–2020)}}
===Timeline=== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:30 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:10 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1987 till:{{#time: m/d/Y }} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1987 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1987 Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards,_piano,_synth id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:tymp value:claret legend:Timpani id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:other value:gray(0.5) legend:Demo,_EP
LineData = at:06/01/1987 color:other layer:back at:06/01/1988 color:other layer:back at:12/01/1989 color:other layer:back at:11/01/1990 color:other layer:back at:06/01/1991 color:black layer:back at:11/01/1991 color:other layer:back at:02/01/1992 color:other layer:back at:12/01/1992 color:black layer:back at:06/01/1993 color:black layer:back at:06/01/1995 color:black layer:back at:12/03/2009 color:black layer:back at:02/08/2012 color:black layer:back at:05/18/2014 color:black layer:back at:05/30/2016 color:black layer:back at:02/10/2018 color:black layer:back at:11/26/2025 color:black layer:back
BarData = bar:Frantisek text:"František Štorm" bar:Mila text:"Míla Křovina" bar:Tomas text:"Tomáš Kohout" bar:Blackie text:"Petr Hošek" bar:Milan text:"Milan Fibiger" bar:Tomas2 text:"Tomáš Vendl" bar:Petr text:"Petr Rámus Mecák" bar:Vlasta text:"Vlasta Voral" bar:Kamil text:"Kamil Princ" bar:Ferenc text:"Ferenc Fečo" bar:Carles text:"Carles R. Apron" bar:Miroslav text:"Miroslav Valenta" bar:Honza text:"Honza Kapák" bar:Ulric text:"Ulric For" bar:Honza2 text:"Honza Přibyl"
PlotData = width:23 bar:Frantisek from:01/01/1987 till:11/01/1995 color:vocals bar:Frantisek from:01/01/1987 till:11/01/1995 color:guitar width:3 bar:Frantisek from:01/01/1987 till:11/01/1995 color:keys width:7 bar:Frantisek from:11/01/1993 till:11/01/1995 color:drums width:11 bar:Frantisek from:11/01/1993 till:11/01/1995 color:bass width:15 bar:Frantisek from:11/01/1993 till:11/01/1995 color:tymp width:19 bar:Frantisek from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2020 color:vocals bar:Frantisek from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2020 color:guitar width:3 bar:Frantisek from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2020 color:keys width:7 bar:Frantisek from:10/04/2025 till:end color:vocals bar:Frantisek from:10/04/2025 till:end color:guitar width:11 bar:Frantisek from:10/04/2025 till:end color:bass width:3 bar:Frantisek from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2011 color:drums width:11 bar:Frantisek from:01/01/2011 till:12/01/2016 color:bass width:11 bar:Frantisek from:07/01/2012 till:12/01/2016 color:drums width:15 bar:Frantisek from:07/01/2015 till:12/01/2016 color:tymp width:19 bar:Mila from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1989 color:guitar bar:Tomas from:01/01/1989 till:11/01/1993 color:guitar bar:Tomas from:01/01/1989 till:11/01/1993 color:keys width:11 bar:Tomas from:01/01/1989 till:11/01/1993 color:vocals width:3 bar:Tomas from:01/01/2009 till:12/01/2016 color:guitar bar:Tomas from:01/01/2009 till:12/01/2016 color:keys width:11 bar:Tomas from:01/01/2009 till:12/01/2016 color:vocals width:3 bar:Tomas from:07/01/2018 till:01/01/2020 color:guitar bar:Tomas from:07/01/2018 till:01/01/2020 color:keys width:11 bar:Tomas from:07/01/2018 till:01/01/2020 color:vocals width:3 bar:Tomas from:10/04/2025 till:end color:guitar bar:Blackie from:12/01/2016 till:01/01/2020 color:guitar bar:Milan from:01/01/1987 till:07/01/1990 color:bass bar:Milan from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/1988 color:vocals width:3 bar:Tomas2 from:07/01/1990 till:11/01/1993 color:bass bar:Tomas2 from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2011 color:bass bar:Petr from:12/01/2016 till:01/01/2020 color:bass bar:Vlasta from:07/01/1990 till:11/01/1995 color:keys bar:Vlasta from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2011 color:keys bar:Kamil from:10/04/2025 till:end color:keys bar:Ferenc from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/1989 color:drums bar:Ferenc from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/1988 color:tymp width:3 bar:Carles from:01/01/1989 till:07/01/1990 color:drums bar:Carles from:01/01/1989 till:07/01/1990 color:vocals width:3 bar:Miroslav from:07/01/1990 till:11/01/1993 color:drums bar:Honza from:01/01/2011 till:07/01/2012 color:drums bar:Honza from:12/01/2015 till:01/01/2020 color:drums bar:Honza from:10/04/2025 till:end color:drums bar:Honza from:12/01/2016 till:07/01/2018 color:guitar width:3 bar:Ulric from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1989 color:tymp bar:Honza2 from:01/01/1989 till:11/01/1993 color:tymp bar:Honza2 from:01/01/2009 till:07/01/2015 color:tymp bar:Honza2 from:12/01/2016 till:01/01/2020 color:tymp }}
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Album |- | 1991 | '''''Ritual.''''' * {{small|Label: Monitor}} * {{small|Format: Vinyl, CD}} |- | 1992 | '''''Jilemnický okultista''''' * {{small|Label: Self-released}} * {{small|Format: Vinyl, CD}} |- | 1995 | '''''Šlágry''''' * {{small|Label: Kron-H}} * {{small|Format: Vinyl, CD}} |- | 2009 | '''''Mantras''''' * {{small|Label: Self-released}} * {{small|Format: Vinyl, CD}} |- | 2012 | '''''Vracejte konve na místo.''''' * {{small|Label: Self-released}} * {{small|Format: Vinyl, CD}} |- | 2014 | '''''Vagus Vetus''''' * {{small|Label: Jihosound Records}} * {{small|Format: Vinyl, CD}} |- | 2016 | '''''Formulæ''''' * {{small|Label: Jihosound Records}} * {{small|Format: Vinyl, CD}} |- | 2018 | '''''Fascinator''''' * {{small|Label: Jihosound Records}} * {{small|Format: Vinyl, CD}} |- | 2025 | '''''Maldorör Disco''''' * {{small|Label: Darkness Shall Rise Productions}} * {{small|Format: Vinyl, CD}} |}
{{columns-start}}
===Demos=== * ''The Ritual Murder'' (1987) * ''Finished'' (1988) * ''The Mass'' (1989) * ''The Fall of Idol'' (1990) * ''Jilemnický okultista'' (1992)
===EPs=== * ''Klavierstück'' (1991)
===Split albums=== * split with Blackosh (2013) * split with Blackosh (2014) {{column}}
===Compilations=== * ''Ritual'' / ''Jilemnický okultista'' (2CD re-release, 2001) * ''Demo Collection #1: The Ritual Murder / Live in Zbraslav'' (2003) * ''Demo Collection #2: Finished / The Mass'' (2003) * ''Demo Collection #3: The Fall of Idol / Jilemnický okultista'' (2003) * ''Ritual'' / ''Jilemnický okultista'' (4LP re-release, 2009) * ''Demos'' (2013)
===Live albums=== * ''Live in Zbraslav 18 May 1989'' (1989) * ''Live Occult Rituals'' (2024) {{columns-end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|position=left}}
{{Master's Hammer}} {{Authority control}} Category:Czech black metal musical groups Category:Avant-garde metal musical groups Category:Czech experimental music groups Category:Musical groups from Prague Category:Musical groups established in 1983 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1995 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2009 Category:1983 establishments in Czechoslovakia Category:1995 disestablishments in the Czech Republic Category:2009 establishments in the Czech Republic