Nekrogoblikon Stenchrar Link Access
However, the early "pre-production" versions of the songs—recorded before they decided to change direction—were not discarded. These demos, officially titled and released as a digital demo in 2012, are the crown jewels of the "Stenchrar". The band described them as "only marginally edited, mixed, and recorded - sometimes with just scratch vocal tracks or no keyboards, since halfway through the process we decided on a different approach and never finished them".
(04:29) – Relentless double-bass drumming and blistering riffs.
First, the baker sneezed so hard he threw his back out. Then, the guard at the gate began to weep, not from fear, but from the sheer burning sensation in his tear ducts. The smell was described by local historians as "a skunk that fell into a vat of boiling garlic, died, and was then used as a sock for a giant with foot rot."
Critics and fans on platforms like Encyclopaedia Metallum praise Stench for its unique ability to balance "depressing melodies" with "joyously sinister" themes. While the goblin gimmick is central, the consensus is that the musicality—specifically the drum work and technical guitar playing—is what allows the album to hold up as a serious metal record rather than just a joke. Nekrogoblikon - Stench - Reviews - Encyclopaedia Metallum
: A fan-favorite track highlighting the band's absurdist humor. nekrogoblikon stenchrar
: The iconic cover art depicting a goblin king looking over a chaotic domain. Where to Find the Album Safely Today
Nekrogoblikon’s live shows are theater-forward: energetic playing, costumes, and audience interaction. Songs from Stenchrar likely translate well because of their strong hooks and crowd-friendly choruses. The bigger production elements (synths, choirs) can be handled with backing tracks or expanded live personnel without losing impact.
Before we can understand Stench , we must understand the muck from which it crawled. Nekrogoblikon was formed in 2006 by Nicky Calonne and Tim Lyakhovetskiy in Palo Alto, California. Their debut, Goblin Island (2007), was exactly what you'd expect from a project recorded in a basement by two friends messing around: a raw, chaotic fusion of comedy and folk metal. It featured sound clips of the band screaming, a bizarre Christmas song, and a chiptune outro, making it feel more like a wild "Weird Al" Yankovic-style novelty than a serious metal record. It was undeniably fun, but not something you'd proudly show off to your friends.
Formed in 2006 by Tim Lyakhovetskiy and Nicky Calonne, Nekrogoblikon spent its early years operating on the fringes of the California underground scene. Their debut album, Goblin Island , established their core lyrical theme: a total, unapologetic obsession with goblins. However, it was their sophomore album, Stench , that catapulted the band into international viral fame. The smell was described by local historians as
Heavy inspiration from "Gothenburg style" bands like Children of Bodom and Wintersun, featuring blistering guitar solos and soaring lead melodies.
(05:14) – An epic, progressive track with sweeping guitar solos.
Stench was not the band's first release—their 2007 debut Goblin Island established the premise—but it was the record that showed they were more than just a novelty act. According to reviews from Metal Archives , while later albums lean heavily into comedy, Stench is arguably 90% serious, high-quality melodic death metal and 10% hilarity.
This article is a deep dive into that shadowy corner of the Nekrogoblikon discography, exploring how Stench transformed the band from a gimmick into a genre-defying force, and why the raw, embryonic demos of the "Nekrogoblikon Stenchrar" are a prized possession for dedicated fans. Nekrogoblikon built a timeless blueprint.
The thematic world of the album is filled with "The Bog," a toxic lagoon where "corpses dissolve" and "miasma deadens your screams". The Royalty: The album concludes with the fan-favorite track "Prince of the Land of Stench," which remains a staple of their live performances. Key Tracks: Iconic songs like "No One Survives" (which spawned a viral office-themed music video) and
If you have read this far, you are ready to seek out .
The sonic landscape of Stench is defined by high-pitched, frenetic synth lines, melodic guitar leads, and a combination of harsh death metal growls and occasionally cleaner, chaotic vocals.
Stench did something few novelty metal records ever accomplish: it proved that a band wearing goblin prosthetics could write top-tier compositions capable of hanging with the best of modern metal. By filtering the grim, murky elements of traditional death metal through a lens of chaotic, not-so-serious fun, Nekrogoblikon built a timeless blueprint.