Undertaking (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 in Budapest, Hungary |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Budapest , Hungary |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
Undertaking was a thrash metal group from Hungary, established in Budapest in 1988. The trio consisted of György Killan (lead vocals and guitar), Viktor Jakab (bass), and Imre Esztári (drums). Although their active period lasted roughly one year, Undertaking quickly became a prominent figure within Hungary's late-1980s thrash metal movement. They initiated the well-known monthly event Thrash Mosh Club at the Ländler Jenő Művelődési Ház in Újpest (Budapest), where they regularly performed as the resident band. In December 1988, they recorded a 7-track demo titled V12BB4U, which was circulated through mail orders and independent record stores. Due to their English-language lyrics, official releases under the socialist regime in Hungary were limited. Internal disagreements caused the group to dissolve in 1989, with their final show being an opening act for Rage at Vienna's Rockhaus.
In 2017, Ákos Dudich and Viktor Jakab published an extensive 545-page hardcover book chronicling Undertaking’s short-lived career during Hungary’s political shift. The volume, named Undertaking – Thrash metal Magyarországon a rendszerváltás idején ("Undertaking – Thrash metal in Hungary at the time of regime change"), also featured a CD reissue of their demo including previously unreleased bonus tracks.
Origins Before Undertaking
György Killan, originally hailing from Kiev, Ukraine, started his musical endeavors with informal sessions known as Children of Zeus before moving to Hungary in the mid-1980s. After settling into his new surroundings and mastering the language, he became involved with local bands such as Leopard and Metal Corpus, collaborating with Zoltán “Pici” Fejes (who later founded Classica). Killan’s self-produced 1988 demo was notable for its multi-instrumental approach—a rarity at that time—and reflected influences from groups like Metallica, Kreator, Slayer, as well as classical compositions.
Viktor Jakab, originating from Miskolc, had previously played with Reaktor before relocating to Budapest for university. Killan met Jakab during a rehearsal where Jakab was trying out for bass duties; they swiftly developed a musical partnership. They then brought on drummer Imre Esztári from Neckrofight after being impressed by his skills, thus completing the lineup that became Undertaking.
Thrash Mosh Club
The Ländler Jenő Cultural Centre, formerly a Railroad Union Community Centre located in Újpest, Budapest, housed a concert hall capable of accommodating over a thousand attendees. Undertaking utilized this space for rehearsals and launched monthly metal-themed evenings known as Thrash Mosh Club—the first event series of its kind within Hungary.
Promoted by Péter “Manitou” Somogyi (who would later manage the band) alongside Zsolt "Gülü" Gürtler’s marketing efforts, these gatherings lasted 5-6 hours each month and featured metal music videos, competitions, comedic sketches, and live acts. Undertaking served as the closing act every night. Drawing crowds up to a thousand people from across Hungary and neighboring countries, the club became an essential venue for both local and international metal bands such as Atomic, Pestilence, Almighty, The Bedlam, Beyond, and Mirror.
Prior to widespread internet access in Hungary, promotion depended heavily on grassroots techniques like hand-drawn flyers and posters distributed by band members and fans alike. Notably, some concert artwork and the Thrash Mosh Club emblem were created by Zoltan Bathory, then a graphic design student who would later achieve fame with his American band Five Finger Death Punch.
Following Undertaking’s breakup, the organizers continued to hold occasional events for several years. Eventually, the concert hall was repurposed into a billiard facility hosting national and international snooker competitions.
V12BB4U demo and the Garázs compilation
Capitalizing on advantageous currency exchange rates and Killan's connections within Ukraine's music community, the group produced a seven-track demo titled V12BB4U (pronounced "We Want To Be Before You") at Kiev's National Film Studios in December 1988.
Although the facility was mainly designed for orchestral film scores and lacked expertise in metal music production, which led to less-than-ideal audio quality, the demo nonetheless sold several hundred copies through mail orders and independent record stores within a few months. It has since become a sought-after collector’s piece.
The demo featured the following songs:
- "Victim Of The Night" (originating from the Killan Demo) – with a horror motif
- "Runner" (also from Killan Demo)
- "Badinery" – a cover of J. S. Bach
- "Viva Ceausescu" – a politically charged critique
- "Cool Before Drinking" – an anti-sobriety anthem inspired by labels on Russian vodka bottles
- "Reactor #4" – addressing the Chernobyl nuclear disaster
- "Evil Dwarf" – a bonus live recording
In 1989, Undertaking took part in the Garázs (Garage) compilation, a local independent album assembled by rock artist and media figure Nagy Feró. Due to an error with the master tape lacking time codes, the track "The Runner" was mistakenly included instead of the intended "Reactor #4," and the band's name was incorrectly printed as "Undertacking."
Disbandment
Undertaking dissolved towards the end of 1989, with their last live show occurring on 13 October 1989 in Vienna, Austria, where they opened for Germany’s Rage. The split was primarily caused by internal conflicts and waning dedication among members.
Members
- György Killan – lead vocals, guitar (1988–1989)
- Viktor Jakab – bass guitar (1988–1989)
- Imre Esztári – drums (1988–1989)
Discography
- 1989 – V12BB4U (demo)
- 1989 – Garázs compilation (featuring "The Runner")
- 2017 – V12BB4U (remastered edition with bonus tracks)
References
- Dudich Ákos – Jakab Viktor: Undertaking – Thrash metal Magyarországon a rendszerváltás idején (Partner Mátrix, 2017) ISBN 9789631284164
- Undertaking (demo review) – Metal Hammer Hungarica No. 1 (June 1989)
- Undertaking (interview) – Metal Hammer Hungarica No. 12 (May 1990)
- Undertaking (Hatásokk rovat) – Új Metal Hammer H. No. 104 (May 1998)
- Garázs compilation – Discogs.com
- Garázs compilation (album review) – Rocker Magazin II/1
- Undertaking (Fémforgács)
- Demopremier 29 years later (Lángoló Gitárok, 2017)
- Book on the cult Hungarian thrash band published (Hammerworld, 2017)
- Undertaking interview (RockStation, 2017)