07/07/2026
Here is another release on Monastyr Records. Once again, it is outside our usual focus. Unlike our previous noise experiments, this one will also be available on physical media as cassette tape in some weeks!
Here is a 1998 demo we recorded as teenagers with my first serious band V.E.C. The late 90s in Slovakia were harsh. Our music was just as brutal. We blended elements of grindcore, noisecore, punk, and death metal. We were one of the most extreme bands in our region. We got kicked out of several live shows. At the very least, they were cut short. We were misunderstood, and honestly, we loved it. Above all, our shows were pure chaotic fun. They were packed with different costumes and weird antics. During one gig, our bassist dove off a 1.5-meter-high stage. The crowd didn't catch him, and he broke his collarbone. We finished the set anyway!
I remember we all loved different bands. Our influences ranged from Terrorizer, Exit-13, and Brutal Truth to Kreator, Clawfinger, Machine Head, Sepultura, A**l C**t, Meat Sh*ts, Biohazard, Morbid Angel, Vader, and Pantera. We truly lived for the music. It was the cassette era, right when CDs were starting to take over.
This demo was recorded live in a village near Žilina. The sound engineer used to mix metal shows in our hometown. He tracked it for us in exchange for a liter of Borovička. We recorded in his band's rehearsal space. There, we used a phenomenal Sonor drum kit with the biggest bass drum in the world. We couldn't stop laughing at it. We recorded the demo live, just like a regular rehearsal. We nailed it pretty much on the first take. The band V.E.C. was always largely about improvisation. You can definitely hear that on the recording.
Recently, I found the original cassette at home. Paradoxically, the tape remained in great condition for the entire 28 years! I digitized it and sent it for a sensitive audio restoration. The original sound lacked some bass. The Fall helped me out with the sound adjustments. I also designed the new artwork using the original cassette cover. I took the main fragment from it. I also placed a band photo from '98 on the back side. The cover is new because the original was in bad shape. However, it completely retains the mood of the original artwork.
Tapes are now in production! This is a limited edition of 50 copies for collectors, nostalgic fans, and archivists. The original demo is incredibly hard to find these days.
M.
Listen here:
https://monastyrmetal.bandcamp.com/album/mental-dental-1998
