INTERVIEW: Alternative Rock from Dobr._Man

Coming out of the Czech alternative rock scene, Dobr._Man have developed a sound that brings together guitar riffs, modern electronic production and dark, atmospheric textures. Their music balances the impact of classic rock with a modern crossover style, creating expansive soundscapes that carry both physical intensity and emotional context. The origins of Dobr._Man reach back to the winter of 2021, when the pandemic era prompted the formation of an unexpected musical project.

Health issues affecting Chorche, guitarist with Chaos in Head, brought together musicians who would otherwise have followed different paths. Former members of the legendary Krabathor joined the project, alongside Pepa Michálek of Forest Jump and Petr “Isi” Isakidis, bassist with Chaos in Head. The group began writing and developing a collection of songs but when Chorche recovered, the original project came to an end and Chaos in Head resumed its activities.

For Petr, however, the music was far from finished and after leaving Chaos in Head, he retained some of the songs created during that period and began forming a new band in September 2022. That autumn, three musicians from Dolany, Petr on bass and keyboards, Jan Kurial on drums and Matěj Veselý on guitar, came together with a shared determination to build a new repertoire and the new project quickly moved from its beginnings into a more established musical output.

Dobr._Man released their debut single, “Najednou,” in 2023, followed by the album Dobrman that autumn. Live performances soon became an important part of the band’s development, including an appearance on Czech Radio Olomouc, where the musicians spoke about their work and performed several songs live on air. The “Najednou” music video also reached television audiences through TV Rebel, helping introduce the band’s sound beyond the stage. Their biggest success to that point arrived in the summer of 2024 with a performance at the Hanácký Woodstock festival. The band followed this milestone by filming new videos for “Dobrman” and a live version of “Jack Daniels,” continuing to build a visual presence around their music.

Today, the current lineup features Petr DM Isakidis on bass guitar, keyboards and lead vocals, with Jirka Moonsty Novák on drums and backing vocals. With their latest single, “Moře,” the band draw on a profoundly moving chapter of history, transforming the experiences of Greek Civil War refugees into a powerful musical tribute. Their determination to adapt provides a fitting backdrop for “Moře,” which captures the band’s central meeting point between classic rock energy and modern stylings, delivering dark, driving instrumentation around a story that reaches far beyond the personal.

It\s dedicated to Greek refugees forced to flee their homeland during the Greek Civil War in the 1940s and granted asylum in the former Czechoslovakia. Decades later, following the revolution, these refugees were finally able to return to Greece and see the sea once more and that journey gives the track its emotional centre, framing a story of displacement, time and the possibility of coming home. Set up by the marching rustle of drums and crunchy guitar tones, the track launches into a grooving riff-driven scene before the punch of drums and stab of chords gives way to expressive vocal leads, forming a lively alternative rock soundscape cut with crunchy instrumentation and moody rock energy.

Rising with belted vocal leads, the track shakes with sonic intensity as the arrangement surges and taps of cowbell steady the rhythm, resulting in an anthemic alternative rock jam packed full of twists and turns. It’s an epic showcase of the band’s thoughtful songwriting, original creativity and performance flair, offering a thrilling rock ride that’s powerful and meaningful in equal measure. It’s a spectacular display of the band’s gripping sound that’s sure to leave a lasting impression with listeners all over the world.

We caught up with Dobr._Man to find out more about their musical journey so far, their single “Moře” and what they’ve got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Dobr._Man below.

How did you get together as a band?

Our story is a rollercoaster of resilience and pure rock ‘n’ roll spirit. It all started in the winter of 2021, during the global lockdown, when guitar player Chorche from Chaos in Head faced some health issues. A temporary project was born, featuring former members of the legendary Czech death metal icons Krabathor, alongside Pepa Michálek (Forest Jump) and myself, Petr “Isi” Isakidis, handling the bass. When Chorche recovered, that initial line-up dissolved, but I kept the creative spark and some original song ideas, determined to build something lasting. In September 2022, I started from scratch in my hometown of Dolany, teaming up with Jan Kurial on drums and Matěj Veselý on guitar.

We hit the ground running. By June 2023, we released our debut album “Najednou,” followed by the “Dobrman” release in the autumn. We were everywhere—playing live, doing interviews and live sessions on Czech National Radio, and getting our music video on TV Rebel. Our biggest highlight back then was a massive show at the Hanácký kopec festival in the summer of 2024.

But the real test came in February 2025 when both Jan and Matěj decided to leave. I was left alone with the Dobr._Man project. Finding a new guitar player who was experienced, technically skilled, humanly compatible, financially stable, and able to sing turned out to be an impossible mission—we auditioned about eight guitarists, but no one fit the bill. So, we adapted. I teamed up with the brilliant drummer Jirka “Moonsty” Novák, and we made a bold decision to continue as a high-energy duo, running the guitars from backing tracks and samples. Today, we jokingly call ourselves a “two-and-a-half” piece band: Bass/Keys/Vocals (1.0) + Drums/Vocals (1.0) + Sampled Guitars (0.5). The line-up changed, but our drive, passion, and raw power are stronger than ever!

Which artists do you draw the most inspiration from?

Our musical DNA is built on high energy, raw attitude, and strong driving rhythms. We draw a massive amount of inspiration from legendary acts that know how to command a stage and deliver pure power. The core of our sound is influenced by the heavy, modern alt-rock grooves of Papa Roach, the timeless grit and swagger of Guns N’ Roses, the anthemic punk-rock energy of Billy Idol, and the aggressive, uncompromising crossover style of Body Count. Mixing these different rock and metal worlds together is what gives Dobr._Man its unique, hard-hitting edge.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

We are highly visual and auditory explorers, so our inspiration comes from the constant flow of modern media surrounding us. We absorb ideas from checking out different TV channels, diving deep into the endless creative ocean of YouTube, and listening to the radio. Whether it’s a striking visual from a movie, a fresh independent artist discovered online, or a catchy groove on the airwaves, we are always scanning our environment. We take these everyday modern impulses, filter them through our own rock perspective, and transform them into our music.

What do you love about your local music scene?

To be completely honest—nothing. The local scene around here feels very stagnant and closed-off. It’s dominated by the same old formulas, and there isn’t much room or support for fresh, modern rock projects that want to try something different. That’s exactly why we don’t look back and why we are actively aiming our project at international waters. We need an environment that is more open-minded, dynamic, and alive, which is why playing abroad is our main focus right now.

Who would you collaborate with as a dream artist?

If we could pick anyone in the universe, it would absolutely be Slash. His guitar playing is the definition of rock ‘n’ roll—it has that perfect blend of raw grit, unmatched attitude, and unforgettable melodic hooks. Having his iconic guitar sound layered over our heavy basslines and electronic samples would be the ultimate dream collaboration. He represents everything we love about rock music.

What is the story behind your new single “Moře”?

“Moře” (The Sea) is an absolute passion project of mine—it comes straight from the heart. It’s a track that carries a very deep, personal energy for us, and we are incredibly proud of how it turned out. In fact, it is such a definitive song for our current sound and direction that it is going to be the title track of our upcoming full-length LP. It sets the tone for everything that is coming next from Dobr._Man.

What message did you want to convey with this release?

The song is deeply rooted in a poignant and often forgotten chapter of history. It tells the story of Greek refugees who fled the Greek Civil War in the 1940s and emigrated to the former Czechoslovakia. These people spent the vast majority of their lives in our country, building families and waiting. After the revolution, they were finally allowed to return to their homeland.

But the tragedy lies in their return. As we sing in the lyrics, many of these main heroes settled close to the sea upon their return, only to realize: “I am back in my own country, but I feel like a stranger here.” It explores the heartbreaking reality of what war does to human lives. It completely strips away a person’s roots, leaving them trapped between two worlds forever. That is the core message—the permanent scars that conflict leaves on human identity.

What is the main thing you want people to take away from listening to your music?

I want people to truly listen, not just have it as background noise. The ultimate goal is for the listener to connect the dots between the lyrics and how the music, the heavy riffs, and the arrangement elements all respond to and reflect that lyrical story. We meticulously craft our songs so that there isn’t a single second of boredom. I want the audience to experience a high-energy ride and thoroughly enjoy the music, but at the same time, I want our tracks to leave them with something deeper to think about after the final note fades.

What artists have you been listening to lately?

My current playlist is quite a diverse mix of rock styles. Lately, I’ve been spinning a lot of Godsmack for that raw, heavy modern rock energy and powerful driving groove. On the alternative side, I’ve been diving into Stereophonics for their incredible British songwriting and melodic hooks, and Radiohead for their brilliant atmosphere, emotional depth, and unique arrangements. I love music that has character and doesn’t just scratch the surface.

Finally, what are your plans for the future?

The immediate goal is to get our music firmly into the minds and ears of listeners worldwide. To be completely honest, I would love to spend 100% of my time just composing, playing live, and listening to my favorite bands, but the reality of the modern music business means I have to spend a lot of time on promotional activities, which is a necessary evil.

Musically, we are pushing boundaries to make our live shows an unforgettable experience. I’ve been working hard on my own multi-instrumental skills. For our upcoming songs, we are designing a unique live performance style: for some tracks, I will switch to live guitar while the bass runs from the samples; for others, I’ll play the bass live while the guitars are sampled. And when a song doesn’t strictly need a bass guitar in that moment, I’ll keep the bass strapped on my back and play live keyboards. It’s very similar to what the legendary band Rush used to do—except Rush had a live guitarist, and we don’t. We are doing all this as a high-octane two-piece band. It creates a fantastic, unexpected visual and musical show element for the audience. Audiences need to see something fresh and captivating; there are plenty of traditional, standard bands out there already.

On top of that, we are heavy on vocal arrangements. I handle all the lead vocals, and our drummer supports me non-stop with massive backing vocals, harmonies, and energetic shouts. We want our sound to be huge, dynamic, and unlike anything you’ve seen from a duo before. And of course, getting our upcoming LP out and taking this massive live show across international borders and onto foreign stages is our ultimate target!

Listen to Moře below