Zepter – The New Torchbearers of Steel City’s Heavy Metal Underground

Today, we’re diving into the underground world of Zepter, a fresh four-piece hailing from Steel City—Linz, Austria. This band is steeped in the eerie atmospheres of '80s Italian horror movies, drawing lyrical inspiration from cult classics, while their sound echoes the heavy metal legends like Virtue, Heavy Load, and Thin Lizzy, Budgie with a dash of their own flair. Imagine a blend of traditional heavy metal, à la Century and Venator, but with a unique twist that sets them apart.

Founded just this year in 2024, Zepter wasted no time and dropped their debut EP in early August. Featuring four tracks, this release has already grabbed attention. However, unlike their Austrian metal compatriots Venator and Eisenhand, they’ve taken an unexpected route by signing with Ironbound Records, an indie label out of Indonesia. While Ironbound Records has a reputation for distributing some serious underground metal to the Indonesian market, they only re-released albums like Amethyst's Rock Knights there—those bands were originally signed by other labels like Jawbreaker Records. The high shipping costs only apply to Zepter’s Inferno demo, as it’s an exclusive release from Ironbound. For European fans, this unfortunately means that getting your hands on their tape can be quite pricey.

Little Editors Note: Shortly after release of the review, the band informed me that they will release the vinyl version via german label "Fucking Kill Records".

It makes me wonder what Zepter’s plan was in choosing this label. Did they make the right call, or could this be another case of “wrong label, wrong time”? Only time will tell.

Now, let’s talk about the EP. As I mentioned, Zepter’s lyrics are heavily influenced by the gruesome and atmospheric world of Italian horror cinema. Take Crushed By the Sword, for instance—it’s an ode to Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond, with memorable lines like, “And you will face the sea of darkness and all therein that may be explored,” pulled straight from the film. They’ve even got a track called Inferno, inspired by Dario Argento’s classic of the same name. The other two songs feature original lyrics written by guitarist and vocalist Lukas Götzenberger.

Musically, Zepter delivers a volatile brew of modern energy with a distinct old-school roughness—think Virtue meets Heavy Load, with a heavier, more aggressive edge. Their take on early ‘80s heavy metal leans into the speedier, more frantic side of the genre, pushing beyond the measured rock of Thin Lizzy or Budgie. Instead, their sound rushes forward with the intensity reminiscent of the late NWOBHM era, even touching on the raw energy of early thrash.

This driving, era-representative sound feels natural, considering lead vocalist/guitarist Lukas Götzenberger's background in heavy psychedelic rock and garage psych with The Heavy Minds. However, Zepter is clearly focused on delivering riffs—sharp, palm-muted chunks that back up blistering leads. Their music draws from the melodic and riff-heavy traditions of British heavy metal, with clear nods to cult favorites like Virtue and newer acts such as Century. The frontman’s vocals have this spectral, almost unhinged quality. It’s not amateurish, but it has that raw, wild edge that gives the music so much character.

What really stands out on this EP, though, is the exuberant energy that flows through every track. The combination of strong guitar work, dynamic songwriting, and that lively push reminiscent of Heavy Load's anthemic spirit makes this release feel like a raw, yet finely honed gem. If you're into heavy metal with a relentless drive, Zepter is definitely one to watch.

To top it all off, the EP’s cover art was designed by none other than Hans Huemer, vocalist of Venator, who’s also made a name for himself with his killer artwork. It’s just one more reason to keep an eye on this band as they carve their way through the underground metal scene.

Zepter - Inferno

Zepter is yet another example that Linz's Steel City is a hotbed of creative, innovative metal bands brewing in this decade. If the city keeps churning out acts like this, it's clear we're in for even more great metal in the future. I can't wait to hear more of Zepter's music and, hopefully, catch them live someday—if they decide to tour somewhere close to me in Germany.