Release Date April 30th, 2026
Format CD/LP/Digital
Genre Black Metal
Origin Bulgaria
Coming out of six years of silence, Hajduk finally dropped a debut that actually has some blood in its veins. This Bulgarian project dug up the bones of Georgi Benkovski and his cavalry to fuel a record that reeks of revolution and old-world grit. It’s raw as a fresh wound, taking classical Bulgarian poetry and folk songs and shoving them through a meat grinder of black metal. They aren’t interested in being your friend, and they definitely aren’t interested in sounding like those over-produced bands that dominate the festivals these days.
The music on “Хвърковата Чета” stays true to that "Flying Band" namesake, moving with a fast, melodic streak that doesn't sacrifice the underlying filth. It’s got that specific kind of melody that feels like a funeral march held in a thunderstorm. The riffs have a haunting quality, weaving through the aggression without ever becoming soft. It sounds like someone recorded this in a basement filled with gunpowder and old books, which is exactly how this kind of metal should sound. You can hear the ghosts of the rebellion in the distance of every track.
When you get into the meat of the album, songs like “Кърваво Писмо” and “Непобедима” show exactly where this band is coming from. The vocals are a shredded mess of agony and pride, matching the themes of death and honor perfectly. It’s a relentless stream of sound that honors the fallen without sounding like a history lecture. The drums keep a steady, frantic pace that mirrors a horse’s gallop, pushing the songs forward through the wreckage. It’s the kind of sound that makes you want to go out and fight for something, even if you’re just fighting a hangover.
The production is cold and stripped back, which works in its favor. You won't find any modern tricks here to hide behind. It’s just pure, melodic black metal that knows its roots. The way they adapted those folk elements into the metal framework is done with a lot of heart, making tracks like “Три Бюлбюла” stand out as more than just another blast-beat session. It has a tragic atmosphere that hangs over the whole experience, making the faster sections feel even more desperate.
It’s a strong debut, even if it doesn't quite reach the level of a total masterpiece. There are moments where the repetition gets a bit much, but the sheer passion behind the performance carries it through. Hajduk has managed to capture a very specific Bulgarian spirit and translate it into a language that any fan of the underground will understand. It’s a record for the ones who miss when black metal felt like a dangerous, local secret.
Damage done @: 7.0
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