Pungent Stench

Pungent Stench formed in Austria in the early 1990s, playing a particularly raw and confrontational style of death metal. Their 1994 album 'For God Your Soul... For Me Your Flesh' established their sound, which was heavy on gore-themed lyrics and deliberately provocative imagery. Songs like 'Why Can The Bodies Fly' and 'A Small Lunch' typified their approach, with titles and content designed to unsettle as much as entertain.

The band's live shows became notorious for extreme stage antics, including the use of fake blood and simulated sacrifices. This theatrical shock value, combined with their lyrical themes, led to accusations of promoting taboo subjects and resulted in some album bans and performance restrictions. They released several albums through the 90s and 2000s, including 'Been Caught Buttering' and 'Masters of Moral Decay', maintaining a consistent output of aggressive music.

Martin Schirenc handled vocals and guitars for the group, with a lineup that at various points included drummer Jacek Perkowski. They never really softened their stance or sound, putting out records like 'Smut Kingdom' in 2013 and 'Death's Head' in 2018. Their work has been a clear reference point for other bands operating at the more theatrical and extreme edges of metal.