Dead Neanderthals are a Dutch free-jazz and extreme metal ensemble from the Netherlands formed in 2012. The group consists of Otto Kokke and René Aquarius. They achieved professional recognition for a musical style blending free-jazz with metal and grindcore elements. After first collaborating online, they began improvising live. Their recording career includes the debut studio recording Jazzhammer / Stormannsgalskap (2012). Their discography includes the studio recordings Polaris (2013), ...And It Ended Badly (2013), and Ghosts (2019). The ensemble achieved professional recognition for the studio recording Molar Wrench (2017), which was highlighted in The Guardian summary of best music (2017). Their discography includes the studio recordings Metal (2022) and Specters (2023).
