Grimming Turn Styrian Witch Trials Into Death Metal on “Pankh,” From Debut Album Jagatod

Grimming. Photo: Armin Walcher, courtesy of Atom Splitter PR.

Austrian death metal quartet Grimming have released “Pankh,” the first single from their debut album, Jagatod. Napalm Records will release the album on March 26, 2027. The band wrote the lyrics in its native Styrian dialect, drawing on the history of the Alpine region it calls home.

“Pankh” takes its name from a chair associated with the Styrian witch trials. It was one of the first songs Grimming wrote together. The musicians say they started out aiming for the sound of Florida death metal, but as the record took shape they found themselves leaning into melody, midtempo grooves and black metal.

The album moves from events that affected entire communities to the fortunes of individual people. “Zwoa Joah” looks back at the crop failures of 1816, the year without a summer. Later, the title track picks up the story from the band’s earlier single “Wüdschitz,” about a man driven to poaching by hunger.

Grimming had released only two songs when they landed a support slot with Ukrainian metal band 1914. Fans can now watch the official “Pankh” video and pre-order Jagatod through Napalm Records.