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BIO

KHADAVER has walked a unique path in metal since its inception in 2006, forging a potent blend of electronic coldness and raw metallic fury. Inspired by infectious grooves of bands such as Dope Stars Inc. or Pain and dark theatricality of The Kovenant and Deathstars, it was formed in Slovakia by Nihil Nix.

The original incarnation, featuring Nihil Nix on guitars and synths, Nekro Mantikk on vocals, Hu-Zhvak on bass, and Necrocyklo on drums debuted their music live in October 2006, making a strong impression on the local scene. However, the road ahead was not without its obstacles. Lineup changes became a recurring theme, with Necrocyklo departing in 2007, forcing Nihil to take over drum programming duties.

KHADAVER unleashed their debut demo “Beta Version” in 2008. This record resonated with the underground, gaining the “TOP DEMO” award from the Dutch webzine Alternate Zone and marking KHADAVER as a band to watch.

In 2010, the demo “GOD-RW” emerged showcasing the band’s evolution. Yet, it was also overshadowed by the line-up changes. Bassist Hu-Zhvak left before they even started recording, and vocalist Nekro Mantikk departed right after the demo dropped.

Undeterred, Nihil brought in fresh blood: vocalist/bassist Syonix Khalt (who’d already handled bass duties on the “GOD-RW” demo) and guitarist Cyanide Dreth. This revitalized lineup culminated in the release of KHADAVER’s full-length debut “New World Disorder” in August 2012. After the album came out, Luxin Tenenbris joined KHADAVER on drums, marking the end of their five-year drum machine phase. The record garnered critical acclaim both domestically and abroad, further solidified by the hauntingly cinematic video for the title track, directed by Michal Kunes Kovac.

Fueled by the success of both the record and the video, KHADAVER started playing live more often and scored support slot for thrash metal legends KREATOR on their 2013 Slovakia show. The band strenghtened its status by competing in the Wacken Metal Battle Slovakia in 2013 and 2014, achieving a commendable 5th place in the final round in 2014. This success wasn’t enough to hold the lineup together as KHADAVER faced another setback with the departures of Syonix and Cyanide.

Despite being down two members, Nihil wasn’t ready to give up. He reshuffled the band, taking on vocal duties alongside his guitar. This new iteration, featuring Feral Inferis on second guitar and Luxin Tenebris on drums, unleashed the follow-up album “Exstinctio Mundi” in November 2015. To bolster their live lineup in support of the release, KHADAVER recruited bassist Arion Mars. The record received positive reviews in underground circles and a top 15 placement in Spark Rock Magazine from Czechia. However, it couldn’t replicate the success of its predecessor and struggles to secure consistent touring opportunities ultimately led to Nihil’s decision to pull the plug on KHADAVER in April 2016.

In 2021, coinciding with the band’s 15th anniversary, Nihil released a special compilation titled “DMZ: Demos & Rarities“. This collection offered a deep dive for dedicated fans, featuring lossless versions of early demos, a digitized rehearsal tape from the original lineup and unreleased material from the “New World Disorder” and “Exstinctio Mundi” sessions. Nihil also announced KHADAVER’s return, this time as a solo side project. A comeback single “Re:Animate” dropped in December 2021, followed by news of a third album in the works. Communication then went dark, suggesting Nihil was busy with other musical activities.

Now it’s 2024 and KHADAVER’s story continues. Live shows are back on the horizon, a new album is being crafted, and the lineup has been bolstered with the return of Arion Mars (now on vocals) and new bassist Attar 9. The search for a permanent drummer is ongoing.

KHADAVER is back to deliver their unique sounds – stay tuned!