Labels: Owlripper Recordings/Na Druhé Straně Řeky
Formats: Digital/Tape
Release Date: 23 Jul 2026
Tracklist:
1. Nemy dopis
2. Spirála hlouposti
3. Past
4. Sladka chut rozkladu
5. Cena za úsměv
6. Valka nemá vítěze
7. Hra na pravdu
It's been a while since I was last able to attend a bandcamp listening party, so it's exciting to be able to attend this one courtesy of both Czechia hardcore/screamo band Dno and Owlripper Recordings. This is Dno's third album and it'll be my first time experiencing their sound. Thank you goes out to Paul and Owlripper for the invite too. I think this release was meant to reach me.
Dno have been a band for over ten years now, though they may have flown under the radar for many people (including mine) until now. It’s always hard to write during these sessions, but the whole point of them is really just to listen, so i’ll flesh this review out later on. Album opener ‘Nemy dopis’ has such a euphoric melodic hardcore sound to it. It’s very emotive and certainly more on the hardcore side. The sound takes you to a more nostalgic place.
‘Spirála hlouposti’ is a lot more immediate in both length and instrumentation, but no less musical. More off-kilter too but with utterly beautiful instrumental passages that really complement the heartfelt aggression of the vocals. I love the slightly blackened approach to ‘Past’. It’s only really evident in the riffs, but it works so well on the album. Okay, maybe I was slightly premature in saying that as the drumming and more to the point, the cymbals also sound black metal-like.
‘Sladka chut rozkladu’ continues that same approach but it leans further towards post-metal too. It’s excellent and quite dramatic too, showing once again how lines between genres/sub-genres are being blurred. In fact, let’s just say there are no genres in heavy music now. It’d all be much easier that way. ‘Cena za úsměv’, the album’s title-track, is carved out of punk and then injected with yet more emotive hardcore. As a result, it’s more accessible I would say and maybe a bit more personal.
Penultimate song ‘Valka nemá vítěze’ has me wondering why more people didn’t attend this listening party. The song itself is super upbeat and heart-wrenching, but it also feels like it can bring people together. It certainly doesn’t need to be flashy or uber technical to make a point. Dno are just absolutely spot on at what they do.
Album closer ‘Hra na pravdu’ offers one last quick-fire round of hardcore; leaving you emotionally spent but also resolutely upbeat. I’ve been surrounding myself with so much prog/tech stuff recently (outside of the blog) and while I really enjoy that side of heavy music, I’ve maybe forgotten about how in the present I feel when hardcore like this hits.
Honestly, this has been such a great listen. Raw and intense but with so much passion as well. Dno really hit the spot, probably because I haven’t gone down the hardcore path much this year. One thing’s for sure though, I’m really eager to dig deeper into Czech hardcore now and I know just where to begin!
You can stream and purchase the album both on tape, and digitally from Dno here:-
It's digitally available from Owlripper Recordings here -https://owlripperrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/cena-za-sm-v
Tape copies are available too from Na Druhé Straně Řeky here:-
https://ndsr.bandcamp.com/album/dno-cena-za-sm-v
Dno Instagram - @dno_band
Owlripper Recordings Instagram - @owlripperecordings
Na Druhé Straně Řeky Instagram - @na_druhe_strane_reky