EXHORDER, REFORE - Praha

28 / 11 / 2025 / SUBZERO / PRAHA

Pioneers of groove metal Exhorder are returning to Prague this fall! Get ready for an unstoppable wave of energy, a raw sound, and the perfect balance of thrash metal, groove metal, and hardcore – on November 28 at Subzero Club.

Exhorder formed around 1985 in New Orleans as a group of enthusiasts determined to carve their own path outside of the local hardcore scene. Their first two demos, Get Rude (1986) and Slaughter in the Vatican (1988), quickly drew attention in the underground for their relentless riffs and boundless energy. Their music is rooted in thrash metal – sharp, technically precise, and often wickedly fast riffs – but adds a heavier, crushing groove that makes the songs feel massive and destructive. Blended with hardcore punk directness, Exhorder’s sound carried a raw, streetwise edge. By the late ’80s, they had helped shape a unique style that went on to inspire dozens of bands.

Their debut album, also titled Slaughter in the Vatican (1990), delivered uncompromising thrash brutality, where hardcore energy clashed with pure metal aggression. The second album, The Law (1992), marked a shift towards groove metal – slowing down the pace, emphasizing rhythmic guitar work, and creating space for crushing riffs. This approach brought them closer to what would later define the groove metal movement, proving that even in extreme music, rhythm and groove could take center stage.

After a long hiatus, Exhorder returned with Mourn the Southern Skies (2019) and most recently with Defectum Omnium (2024), both albums combining their thrash ferocity with groove heaviness while exploring darker, more atmospheric territories. This has allowed them to remain modern while staying true to their roots. Today, Exhorder stand as a band that, even decades later, are still raw, intense, and original – rightfully considered one of the forefathers of groove metal.

Supporting them are REFORE, one of the most prominent names in the current Czech thrash scene. Formed in 2016 in the Zlín region, they quickly built a reputation as a relentless live act, sharing the stage with bands like Machine Head, Napalm Death, and D.R.I., and regularly performing at major festivals such as Obscene Extreme and Masters of Rock. With an EP and two albums under their belt – the latest, Illusion of Existence, released this February – Refore deliver old-school thrash infused with melody and energy, resulting in a sound that is fierce, modern, and uncompromising.

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