Bio
“To be one of the greatest punk bands from the Balkan area is prestigious as it is to be Bad Religion in South California”
– “Scraggled Music” from Bulgaria, on “Jas sum zemja” LP, 2015
“Their sound was like a thread: melodic hardcore that hits fast, precisely, but with a melody that carries and a chorus that makes you throw everything out of yourself. Vocals that are both angry and warm, with an attitude that is both political and personal. Noviot Pochetok showed why they have survived for more than two decades. Not because they follow trends, but because they have a heart, a message that you can’t fake.”
– Vedad Kobiljak, “Izvan Svake Kontrole” from Croatia, on a 2025 live show (SAWA)
“One of the best punk albums in the last few years from the region”
– “13brat” from Slovenia, on LP “Melancholic Machine” LP, 2012
“These Macedonians won’t let you take a breath on this album”
– “Terapija.net” from Croatia, on “Melancholic Machine” LP, 2012
“Honestly, whatever I’ve heard from there, it’s crazy, it has some weird traits, it’s not a classic”
– Zgro, “Out of the Darkness” Fanzine, on a 2025 live show (Iluzije Slobode)
“Melodic, but fierce when the composition and dynamics require it, with excellent vocals on top of the above, they caused the first serious commotion, waves and choir singing.”
– Aleksandar Petrović, “HellyCherry” Fanzine, on a 2025 live show (Iluzije Slobode)
…
NOVIOT POCHETOK, sometimes known as The Beginnings, is one of the most recognisable and longest-playing bands in North Macedonia’s music history.
Formed in 2002, the band has evolved through several names and line-up changes while keeping the same core intact: melodic and fiercely energetic music, built to be played live. Their explosive performances have become a defining part of the band’s identity, earning them a reputation well beyond their home country.
During the 2010s, NOVIOT POCHETOK toured extensively across Europe and have played nearly 300 shows to date – a rare trajectory for a band emerging from North Macedonia’s independent music scene.
Their catalogue includes five full-length albums written in their native language, spanning more than two decades of melodic punk and hardcore, with songs that move between the personal, political and everything in between.
Under the alias The Beginnings, the band also re-recorded a selection of songs from their catalogue with rewritten English lyrics. That material is currently being remastered for a new release.
Nearly twenty five years in, NOVIOT POCHETOK remain what they have always been at their best: melodic, loud, restless and very much alive.
Short facts
• Formed: 2002
• Originally named: Morfium
• First name change: 2005, name changed to “Noviot Pochetok”, meaning “The New Beginning” in Macedonian
• Second name change: 2018, name changed to “The Beginnings”
• Third name change: 2021, the band started using both names – “Noviot Pochetok” and “The Beginnings”. One for their domestic fans, the other for their fans across the world.
Releases (as Noviot Pochetok):
• 2023 LP “Endless Endeavors” (Sixtynine Records) [Digital, 12″, CD]
• 2015 LP “Jas Sum Zemja” (Sixtynine Records) [Digital, 12″, CD]
• 2013 Single “Kauch Kral” (Sixtynine Records) [Digital]
• 2012 LP “Melancholic Machine” (Sixtynine Records) [Digital, CD]
• 2009 LP “Agnozija” (Enterprise Records) [Digital, CD]
• 2006 LP “Evolucijata Bi Trebalo Da Zapochne Sega…” (Sixtynine Records) [Digital, CD]
Releases (as THE BEGINNINGS):
• 2026 LP “I Am Dirt” – REMASTERED – coming soon (Sixtynine Records + Others) [Digital]
• 2018 LP “I Am Dirt” (Sixtynine Records) [Digital]
Tours (as Noviot Pochetok):
• 2018 Germany Spring Tour (Germany)
• 2016 Sorry For The Mess Tour (Serbia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia)
• 2015 September/October Mini-Tour (Greece, Bulgaria)
• 2015 Filthy Summer Tour (Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia)
• 2013 We Come From The Ass Of Europe Tour (Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Greece)
• 2012 Melancholic European Tour (Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany)
• 2012 Melancholic Balkan Tour (Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia)
• 2009 Dirty Old Exit Tour (Serbia, Croatia)
for a complete list of shows check out the tourdates page.
Festival appearances (as Noviot Pochetok):
• 2025 SAWA (Croatia)
• 2025 Iluzije Slobode (Serbia)
• 2025 Mladi za Mladi (N. Macedonia)
• 2024 Free Spirit Day (N. Macedonia)
• 2024 Zemjotres Festival #12 (N. Macedonia)
• 2023 Europe Day (N. Macedonia)
• 2022 20 Years Esperanza (Germany)
• 2022 Vostanie #6 (N. Macedonia)
• 2019 Punk Rock All Stars (N. Macedonia)
• 2019 Konop Fest (N. Macedonia)
• 2018 Brucoshka na FEIT (N. Macedonia)
• 2018 Vinica Open (N. Macedonia)
• 2018 AKTO Zemjotres (N. Macedonia)
• 2017 Vostanie #3 (N. Macedonia)
• 2017 FFUD Fest (Slovakia)
• 2017 Rakija Fest (N. Macedonia)
• 2016 Skopje Street Festival (N. Macedonia)
• 2016 Hardcore Xmass (Bulgaria)
• 2016 Cinedays (N. Macedonia)
• 2016 Skopje Pride Festival (N. Macedonia)
• 2016 MAN Fest (N. Macedonia)
• 2016 25 Years Kanal 103 (N. Macedonia)
• 2016 Zemjotres #4 (N. Macedonia)
• 2015 D Festival (N. Macedonia)
• 2015 Punk Recharge (N. Macedonia)
• 2015 Bitolski Zemjotres (N. Macedonia)
• 2014 Diehard Summer Fest (N. Macedonia)
• 2014 Punk Rock Picnic (N. Macedonia)
• 2014 Zemjotres #2 (N. Macedonia)
• 2012 PIN Music Conference (N. Macedonia)
• 2012 Grr Fest (Croatia)
• 2011 Letna Pozornica Niš (Serbia)
• 2010 Last Chance to Dance (Serbia)
• 2010 Rezervat Festival (N. Macedonia)
• 2010 Bela Nokj (N. Macedonia)
• 2010 Alarm (N. Macedonia)
• 2009 November Hardcore Festival (N. Macedonia)
• 2009 Pivolend (N. Macedonia)
• 2009 Dirty Old Festival (Croatia)
• 2009 EXIT (Serbia)
• 2008 Go Sakam Skopje (N. Macedonia)
• 2008 Budenje Fest (N. Macedonia)
• 2008 Punkrock vs. Ska vol I (N. Macedonia)
• 2007 Prilepski Zagovor #3 (N. Macedonia)
• 2006 Plagij.at Turns One Festival (N. Macedonia)
• 2006 Skopje Summer Festival (N. Macedonia)
• 2006 XMKD Skate Contest Day (N. Macedonia)
• 2005 Loser Fest (N. Macedonia)
• 2005 Easter Rock Fest (N. Macedonia)
• 2005 Rock Fest 2005 (N. Macedonia)
• 2004 Rock Fest 2004 (N. Macedonia)
for a complete list of shows check out the tourdates page.
Line-up:
• Fitz, vocals and guitar (since 2002)
• Fat Cacko, guitar and vocals (since 2005)
• Ile, drums (since 2015)
• Ace, bass (2007 – 2012; since 2018)
• Emil, guitar (since 2017)