Album Review: Wulckdroff’s Going Going – A Thrash Gem from 1996 Yugoslavia
Man, if you’re into raw, unfiltered thrash rock, then Going Going by Wulckdroff is one of those albums that just hits you in the chest and doesn’t let go. Released back in ‘96 under Silver Cross Records, this Yugoslavian beast of a record feels like it came straight outta some sweaty underground club where everyone’s headbanging till their necks hurt. The band pulls no punches here—no fancy overproduction, no gimmicks. Just pure adrenaline-fueled riffs and gritty vocals courtesy of Pegulla. And yeah, they even did most of the artwork themselves (props to Wulckdroff for wearing so many hats).
First off, let me talk about "Jester In The Mud." This track sticks with you not because it's perfect but because it’s messy as hell—in the best way possible. Nenad Vještica’s guitar work on this thing is wild; it feels like he’s wrestling with his own instrument half the time. You can almost picture him shredding live, sweat dripping down his face while Brennin smashes away at the drums like there’s no tomorrow. The lyrics are kinda cryptic too, something about jesters and mud—I dunno, maybe it’s a metaphor? But honestly, who cares when the riffage grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go?
Then there’s “The Last Hero Has Gone,” which closes the album with this weird mix of triumph and sadness. It starts slow, almost haunting, before exploding into this massive wall of sound. Danijel Zečević’s basslines thump through your speakers like a heartbeat, steady yet urgent, pulling everything together. By the end, you’re left wondering what happened to that hero—and maybe thinking about your own heroes, real or imagined. It’s heavy stuff, man, both musically and emotionally.
What makes Going Going special isn’t just its killer tracks—it’s how personal it feels. These guys weren’t chasing fame or trends. They were making music because they had to, because it was inside them and needed to come out. Producer Saša Toković and Kosta Bogdanović clearly understood that vibe and didn’t try to polish it too much. Even the photography by Darko Jovanović and Veljko Živković gives off this DIY aesthetic that matches the whole spirit of the album.
So, yeah, Going Going might not be flawless, but it’s got soul. Like, loads of it. Listening to it now, decades later, I can’t help but think how cool it must’ve been to catch these dudes live back in the day. Maybe somewhere in Belgrade or Zagreb, packed tight in a tiny venue, losing your voice screaming along to “Fifth For The Bridge” or whatever else got stuck in your head.
Here’s the kicker though: albums like this remind us why we listen to music in the first place—not for perfection, but for connection. So grab a beer, crank up the volume, and let Wulckdroff take you back to a time when thrash wasn’t just a genre—it was a way of life. Oh, and hey—if anyone knows where I can score an original vinyl copy, hit me up.
