Tag Archives: kraków

Album Review – Impermanence / Anicca (2025)

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This five-headed Technical Death and Black Metal beast from Poland will attack armed with their debut offering, portraying the fragility and transience of human life.

Forged in the fires of Kraków, Poland by the end of 2023, the Technical Death and Black Metal beast known as Impermanence is unleashing hell with the release of their debut offering, entitled Anicca. Recorded at Studio Poziom -1, mixed and mastered at Dahaka Productions, and displaying a beyond Stygian yet captivating artwork by Alicja Michalec, the debut opus by Mateusz Bednarz on vocals, Wojciech Wróbel and Paweł Hernik on the guitars, Bartłomiej Fitas on bass, and Konrad Pieczara on drums portrays the fragility and transience of human life, all embraced by the band’s unrelenting blend of extreme music, being therefore highly recommended for fans of renowned acts from the Extreme Metal scene the likes of Behemoth, Belphegor, Nile, and God Dethroned, just to name a few.

The album’s phantasmagorical, eerie Intro will embrace us in pitch black darkness before the band rips our hearts out with Sorrodise, with both Wojciech and Paweł delivering a wild fusion of Black and Death Metal through their flammable riffs accompanied by the rumbling bass by Bartłomiej. In other words, the album couldn’t have started in a more compelling way. From Mirage to Lust brings elements from the current Scandinavian Melodic Death and Black Metal scene, with Mateusz taking the lead with his devilish screams, and the band then goes absolutely mental in the Melodic Black Metal beast entitled Apocalypse, with Konrad bringing forward sheer heaviness with his classic beats and fills, inviting us all to slam into the pits of the netherworld.

There’s no sign of the band slowing down at all; quite the contrary, this five-headed creature of extreme music will pulverize us all with Spiritual War, where the guitars by Wojciech and Paweł exhale madness and sulfur; whereas their metallic sounds continue to darken the skies in Fugitive, with tons of intricacy flowing from their riffs, bass and drums, all enfolded by Mateusz’s venomous roars. As expected, there’s no such thing as “sounding mellow” or “happy music” to those guys, and they invest in their most Behemoth-inspired sonority in Ascension Through Defiance, with their riffage cutting our skin deep while Konrad pounds his drums nonstop in the name of Polish Blackened Death Metal for our absolute delight. And lastly, we face the hard-hitting Crumbling, deviating a bit form their core Black and Death Metal, but still sounding tight and heavy as usual.

“Anicca is a hymn to the fragility that marks our existence. The album’s name is derived from Buddhist terminology and signifies impermanence. The lyrical layer explores themes of transience and the search for purpose in the world around us. Songs begins and ends with the ticking of a clock, clearly marking both the start and the conclusion of the story being told. Each track presents a different narrative, offering a unique perspective on the somber aspects of human nature. This concept extends beyond the lyrics, shaping the band’s overall artistic identity,” commented the band about their amazing newborn baby, and you can get in touch with them and know more about their music, tour dates and plans for the future on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their caustic music on YouTube and on Spotify, and grab a copy of the excellent Anicca from their own BandCamp, from the Satanath Records’ BandCamp or webstore, or simply by clicking HERE. In the end, we are all fragile beings, we are not permanent, and the music found in Anicca perfectly reminds us of how hard it is to face such a harsh truth.

Best moments of the album: Sorrodise, Apocalypse and Ascension Through Defiance.

Worst moments of the album: Crumbling.

Released in 2025 Satanath Records

Track listing
1. Intro 1:24
2. Sorrodise 4:20
3. From Mirage to Lust 5:16
4. Apocalypse 3:23
5. Spiritual War 4:12
6. Fugitive 6:06
7. Ascension Through Defiance 5:03
8. Crumbling 5:56

Band members
Mateusz Bednarz – vocals
Wojciech Wróbel – guitars
Paweł Hernik – guitars
Bartłomiej Fitas – bass
Konrad Pieczara – drums

Album Review – Syllogomania / Syllogomania (2025)

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An uncanny Post-Black Metal entity from Poland will attack your senses with its debut opus, a record of the past while also representing the chaos we constantly stumble over in our present and future.

The term “syllogomania” refers to the compulsive hoarding of items, leading to a cluttered living space and significant disruption to social and professional life, often stemming from loneliness, social isolation, and a lack of motivation to maintain order. In the underground of heavy music, Syllogomania is the brand new Post-Black Metal project by the uncanny vocalist and multi-instrumentalist A.I.G., formed in Kraków, Poland between 2021 and 2022 from the ashes of his previous band. Recorded at A.I.G.’s own home studio, mixed and mastered by Przemysław Nowak at Impressive-Art Studio, and displaying a sinister artwork by A.I.G. himself, his debut self-titled album is a record of the past, while also representing the chaos we constantly stumble over in our present and future, the moments we see the lives of our oldest relatives come to an end, and finally our own life that we have already lost from the start, which we lived in vain.

The title-track Syllogomania is very experimental, cryptic and demented, with A.I.G. delivering some circus-inspired sounds that will captivate your senses and drag you to total darkness before he starts distilling his devilish gnarls, followed by Drink The Fire, Fan The Flames, a more straightforward Blackened Death Metal beast by our lone wolf, with all beats and guitar lines reeking of absolute madness. A.I.G. then speeds things up and crushes our damned souls with his harsh and caustic Post-Black Metal in Of Emptiness, alternating between sheer savagery and epic neck-breaking moments; and continuing his path of total devastation and hatred he offers us all Slumber, where his anguished roars will penetrate deep inside your putrid mind like a vile parasite. Lastly, we face Modlitwa, or “prayer” from Polish, featuring guest vocals by Stawrogin (Gruzja, Odraza, Totenmesse), the most apocalyptic ending possible to the album, sounding very dynamic, diverse and full of nuances and layers.

A solitary, heavy, aggressive and rotten Black Metal creature from the dust-choked streets of Krákow, Syllogomania‘s debut record is an unforgiving assault on the senses, an intense dive into the chaos of a mind consumed by its own existence, highly recommended for fans of Shining, MGLA, Forgotten Tomb, Gaerea, Odraza, Aenaon, and Psychonau. You can find more information (but not too much) about the mysterious, grim Syllogomania on Facebook and on Instagram, and purchase the album from the project’s own BandCamp or from the Loudriver Records’ BandCamp or webstore. In a nutshell, Syllogomania is a brutal snapshot of a childhood choked by mould, insects, and an unrelenting pile of dust covered boxes, untouchable, suffocating and the still-coming madness we keep falling into. Dust. Emptiness. Anger. Nothing more, nothing less.

Best moments of the album: Of Emptiness and Slumber.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Loudriver Records

Track listing
1. Syllogomania 6:04
2. Drink The Fire, Fan The Flames 4:14
3. Of Emptiness 6:27
4. Slumber 7:28
5. Modlitwa 8:22

Band members
A.I.G. – vocals, guitars, bass, drum programming

Guest musician
Stawrogin – vocals on “Modlitwa”

Album Review – Todestrieb / Corona Tenebra (2024)

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An up-and-coming Polish Black Metal duo is crowned in darkness to the sound of their debut opus, dealing with themes like spirituality, gnostic Satanism, blasphemy, theology and philosophy.

Formed in Krakow, Poland in 2023 by vocalist Res and guitarist and bassist Blein, the ruthless Black Metal duo Todestrieb (a German word that translates to “death drive” or “death wish” in English, from the classical Freudian psychoanalytic theory) is set to darken our minds and souls with their debut album, titled Corona Tenebra, or “crown of darkness” from Latin. Recorded at No Solace Studio, mixed and mastered at Impressive Art Studio, with a fiery artwork by Izabela Grabda and with guest Michał “The Fall” Stępień (Mgła, Hauntologist, Owls Woods Graves) on drums, Corona Tenebra consists of five tracks and an outro inspired by the music by Watain, Odraza, Drastus, Kriegsmaschine, Tortorum, Funeral Mist and many more, with its lyrics circling around themes like spirituality, gnostic Satanism, blasphemy, theology and philosophy.

Res and Blein are definitely another prolific duo of the underground, and the dense atmosphere and enfolding darkness found in Axis Nihil are proof of their talent, supported by the complex yet vile drums by Michał. Then investing in a more direct form of Black Metal the band will pulverize our senses with Na Twoje Przeciwienstwo, which is Polish for “for your opposite”, where Res not only sounds demonic on vocals, but the fact the lyrics are in Polish gives the song an even edgier vibe. Blein’s visceral riffs and bass add a touch of lunacy to Po krokach naszych tylko cisza, or “after our steps only silence”, another song where the duo continues to experiment with darker than usual sounds; followed by the title-track Corona Tenebra, a lecture in Polish Black Metal, or in other words, a blasphemous, infernal blast of obscurity where Res keeps roaring like a true demon supported by the classic drums by Michał. They still have time for one final exhibit of their passion for all things evil in Misterium Fidei, which is Latin for “the mystery of faith”, with the incendiary riffs by Blein burning our souls mercilessly, ending with ע, the letter “p” or number 70 in Hebrew, a whimsical outro to their more-than-demolishing opus.

As Blein and Res are crowned in total darkness to the sound of their vile debut offering, you can show them your support by following them on Facebook and on Instagram for all things Todestrieb, and of course you can purchase a copy of Corona Tenebra from Avantgarde Music or from Sound Cave (as a digipak CD, a red vinyl, or a very special vinyl + CD bundle). Corona Tenebra is a spiritual and philosophical voyage through the realms of Black Metal, and I’m sure after such an imposing album we’ll hear a lot more from Todestrieb in the near future as they’ll keep darkening our minds and souls with their music without showing a single drop of mercy.

Best moments of the album: Na Twoje Przeciwienstwo and Corona Tenebra.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Avantgarde Music

Track listing
1. Axis Nihil 5:09
2. Na Twoje Przeciwienstwo 6:50
3. Po krokach naszych tylko cisza 6:25
4. Corona Tenebra 4:38
5. Misterium Fidei 3:49
6. ע          0:56 ע

Band members
Res – vocals
Blein – guitars, bass

Guest musician
Michał “The Fall” Stępień – drums (session)

Album Review – KIR / L’appel du Vide (2024)

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Behold this journey through disappointment and despair, towards disintegration, by a newborn Black Metal beast hailing from Poland.

Exploring the lowest of lows of human nature, warped and excreted by the concrete jungle, a deeply personal tale of a troubled mind entrenched in a society seething right below the surface, and a journey through disappointment and despair, towards disintegration, the scorching L’appel du Vide (which is French for “the call of the void”), the debut opus by Kraków, Poland-based Black Metal unity KIR, is a powerful testament to the band’s relentless pursuit of creative expression. Recorded by Maciej Soboń at TRIPlets Audio, produced, engineered, mixed, mastered by the band’s own guitarist and bassist Ferment, displaying a grim artwork by another member of the band, vocalist Harvest, and featuring guest drummer Krzysztof Klingbein, the album explores themes of urban isolation, human frailty, and despair, reflecting a profound awareness of music as an art form that can challenge, disturb, and inspire.

The album couldn’t have started in a more atmospheric vibe than with DestinationVoid, exploding into the Black Metal extravaganza titled Monument, where the insane beats by Krzysztof alongside the piercing guitars by Ferment build the perfect ambience for Harvest to vociferate rabidly in the name of Black Metal. Then get ready for almost eight minutes of pure sonic devastation not recommended for the faint at heart titled Znów, or “again”, where Harvest sounds absolutely merciless during the whole song while Ferment fires his most decimating riffs of the entire album, followed by Eter, the Polish word for “ether”, which starts in a grim, more introspective manner to the vile guitar lines by Ferment, showcasing hints of Doom Metal added to their sound, therefore resulting in what’s by far the most haunting, obscure of all songs. The band brings forward their final Black Metal offering in Apoptosis, where their most cadaverous vein arises like a demonic entity, blasting almost ten minutes of no hope, nor any sign of peace, while the despair flowing from Harvest’s anguished roars is truly outstanding, consequently putting a terrific conclusion to such a flammable opus.

L’appel du Vide is a grungy, suffocating invitation to explore the “call of the void” within oneself – that impulse to teeter over the edge, to feel the pull of darkness and walk right up to it. Hence, you can get to know more about the duo on Facebook and on Instagram, and show them your utmost support to the extreme music scene by purchasing the album from their own BandCamp page or from the Godz ov War Productions’ BandCamp or webstore. With the caustic L’appel du Vide, KIR are inviting all listeners to lose themselves in a sonic landscape where the absurdity of modern life meets the beauty and despair of the human psyche, creating an unforgettable Black Metal journey for those willing to heed the call and, consequently, keeping the fires of underground extreme music burning bright for many centuries to come, always offering us all harsh, visceral and captivating music like what’s found in the band’s debut opus.

Best moments of the album: Znów and Apoptosis.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Godz ov War Productions

Track listing
1. DestinationVoid 1:14
2. Monument 4:34
3. Znów 7:47
4. Eter 7:54
5. Apoptosis 9:28

Band members
Harvest – vocals
Ferment – guitars, bass

Guest musician
Krzysztof Klingbein – drums (session)

Album Review – Terrordome / Straight Outta Smogtown (2021)

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The new album by this unrelenting Polish squad will hit you hard right in the head with their fusion of Thrash Metal, Hardcore and Crossover Thrash with beyond acid lyrics.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Tomasz “ZED” Zalewski at Zed Studio and featuring an old school artwork by Marcin “Biały” Białkowski, Straight Outta Smogtown is the third full-length installment by a Thrash Metal squad formed in 2005 in the city of Kraków, Poland that goes by the in-your-face name of Terrordome, following up on the violence and adrenaline of their 2015 album Machete Justice. Highly recommended for fans of the sickness blasted by renowned acts the likes of Nuclear Assault, Slayer and Cryptic Slaughter, the new album by vocalist and guitarist Uappa Terror and guitarist Paua Siffredi, together with session musicians Simon on bass and Friggi Mad Beats (Chaos Synopsis, Attomica) on drums, will hit you hard right in the head with their fusion of classic Thrash Metal, Hardcore and Crossover Thrash, with an array of guests including Frank Blackfire (Sodom, Assassin) and Manu Joker (Uganga, Sarcofago) bringing even more electricity to the album’s metal thrashing madness.

Featuring an atmospheric guitar solo by guest Konrad “Destroyer” Ramotowski (Untervoid, Hate), the intro Terrorizing the Nation as the Best Way to Thwart Shameful Schemes warms up our bodies and minds for the Exodus and Nuclear Assault-inspired tune Possessed By Blyat, where Friggi Mad Beats crushes his drums mercilessly, being therefore perfect for slamming into the pit right away, whereas Worried Again sounds even heavier and more menacing, with Uappa’s visceral roars adding an extra touch of animosity to the music while Uappa himself and Paua extract pure Thrash Metal from their sick riffage. And their sonic attack has no time to stop, as they keep delivering hatred and madness in Steel on the Road, with their thrashing riffs and blast beats elevating the song’s insanity through the roof, not to mention how demented Uappa sounds on vocals.

The rumbling bass by Simon kicks off the Thrash and Groove Metal feast Plastic Death, where Uappa invests into Tom Araya-like vocals while his bandmates exhale heaviness through their sonic weapons, and it’s impressive how they managed to sound even faster and heavier than before in Your Personal Comfort Versus the Global Disaster, a brutal Thrash Metal assault showcasing razor-edged riffs by Uappa and Paua and the always wicked beats by Friggi Mad Beats. Then featuring guest vocals by Manu Joker and Jairo Vaz (Chaos Synopsis), get ready to be smashed by Terrordome in Desordem e Regresso, a sick display of extreme music and a “tribute” to the political nightmare that haunts Brazil these days; and Friggi Mad Beats hammers his drums in great fashion in the berserk Into the Void, a pulverizing Crossover Thrash extravaganza led by the vicious riffs and solos by the band’s relentless guitar duo. After such demented tune, their thrashing party goes on in the also electrifying Ego-Boost Downfall, drinking from the fountain of Bay Area Thrash and, therefore, offering our ears piercing riffs and thunderous bass jabs nonstop.

Money Kills carries a great title for another solid, straightforward Thrash Metal tune where all band members are on fire from start to finish, with Uappa stealing the spotlight by rabidly roaring the song’s acid words, while Demolition, featuring a slashing guitar solo by guest Frank Blackfire, offers more of their European thrash spearheaded by the machine gun-like beats by Friggi Mad Beats. Put differently, it will work perfectly when played live to an avid moshing crowd, and firing some Gary Holt-like riffs and infernal beats the quartet brings forward another humongous dosage of animosity and rebelliousness in I Don’t Care, where Uappa is once again demented on vocals. Then an atmospheric intro evolves into a headbanging tune titled Conspiracy, where Uappa and Paua invite us all to dance like a monkey into the circle pit, albeit not as intense as its predecessors; whereas an intro taken from the 1968 cult movie Night of the Living Dead, directed by the iconic George A. Romero (R.I.P.), explodes into what’s in my opinion the best song of the album, The Day They Left Their Graves, a lecture in Thrash Metal with Friggi Mad Beats sounding utterly infernal on drums, presenting the perfect combination of old school thrash with tales of the living dead.

You can get caught in the frantic mosh crafted by Terrordome in Straight Outta Smogtown by listening to the full album on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course if you consider yourself a true thrashing trooper you should definitely purchase the album from the band’s own BandCamp page and webstore, from the Selfmadegod Records’ BandCamp page and webstore, from Apple Music or from Discogs. In addition, don’t forget to follow those sick thrashers on Facebook and on Instagram, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their awesome creations. After all is said and done, Terrordome proved us all with Straight Outta Smogtown that Thrash Metal is more than alive, especially in the underground, solidifying their name in the local and international scene and, of course, proudly carrying the flag of Polish extreme music wherever they go.

Best moments of the album: Worried Again, Steel on the Road, Desordem e Regresso and The Day They Left Their Graves.

Worst moments of the album: Conspiracy.

Released in 2021 Selfmadegod Records

Track listing
1. Terrorizing the Nation as the Best Way to Thwart Shameful Schemes 0:48
2. Possessed By Blyat 2:41
3. Worried Again 3:24
4. Steel on the Road 2:38
5. Plastic Death 3:32
6. Your Personal Comfort Versus the Global Disaster 2:50
7. Desordem e Regresso 2:45
8. Into the Void 2:25
9. Ego-Boost Downfall 2:57
10. Money Kills 3:49
11. Demolition 2:43
12. I Don’t Care 2:49
13. Conspiracy 3:41
14. The Day They Left Their Graves 3:09

Band members
Uappa Terror – vocals, guitars
Paua Siffredi – guitars
Virious – bass*
Rob Sixkiller – drums*

Guest musicians
Simon – bass (session)
Friggi Mad Beats – drums (session)
Konrad “Destroyer” Ramotowski – guitar solo on “Terrorizing the Nation as the Best Way to Thwart Shameful Schemes”
Słoma – additional vocals on “Worried Again”
Kosa – additional vocals on “Worried Again”
Syru – additional vocals on “Worried Again”
Frank Blackfire – guitar solo on “Demolition”
Manu Joker – additional vocals on “Desordem e Regresso”
Jairo Vaz – additional vocals on “Desordem e Regresso”

*Bass and drums recorded respectively by Simon and Friggi Mad Beats

Album Review – Ragehammer / Into Certain Death (2020)

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It’s time to head into certain death to the sound of the new album by this insane Polish brigade, offering us all ten slabs of sincere and brutal Blackened Thrash Metal violence.

Kraków, Poland’s own Black/Thrash Metal institution Ragehammer is finally back to the battlefront after four years of studio inactivity (since the release of their 2016 opus The Hammer Doctrine) and a year-long live hiatus with the same lineup comprised of The Hellstörm on vocals, Bestial Avenger on the guitars, Corpsebutcher on bass and Mortar on drums to once again spit with scorn at the trend-ridden scene, where aesthetics took over the ethics, armed with their sophomore full-length album entitled Into Certain Death. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Mikołaj Żentara at No Solace, featuring an enraged artwork by Devinez, and consisting of ten slabs of sonic violence with variable pain levels in the characteristic of sincere and brutal Blackened Thrash Metal style which continues the path Ragehammer chose when starting almost 10 years ago, Into Certain Death will offer the listener exactly what the band has always promised to provide in their rebellious career, a raw, warlike fusion of Black and Thrash Metal without compromises, unnecessary distance or mercy, and of course a very good reason for getting drunk and raising our horns in the name of evil.

Metal troopers are marching to the beats by Mortar in the uprising intro Beneath the Red Suns, suddenly exploding into a lesson in Blackened Thrash Metal titled We Are the Hammer, with Bestial Avenger extracting endless savagery and electricity form his stringed weapon, therefore providing The Hellstörm exactly what he needs to shine with his raspy, berserk growls. Moreover, when they speed things up it’s time to simply crush your skull into the pit, and there’s no sign of those four horseman slowing their music down as they blast a furious hybrid of Black, Death and Thrash Metal titled Jesus Goat, with Corpsebutcher and Mortar being thunderous with their respective bass punches and blast beats. In Peace let’s say the name of the song doesn’t match with its infuriated rhythm, with the band bringing forward a potent display of extreme music led by Bestial Avenger’s razor-edged riffage while The Hellstörm vociferates rabidly from start to finish in great blackened, thrashing fashion, whereas the band’s frontman roars viciously in his mother tongue in the sick Black and Thrash Metal extravaganza titled Na Pewną Śmierć, which is Polish for the album’s title “into certain death”, tailored for admirers of the heaviest side of thrash, with Mortar sounding utterly demented behind his drum set.

In the fulminating 616. TerrorKorps the band drinks from the same wicked fountain as thrashing masters Exodus and Slayer, but of course with the band’s own Polish twist, while the stringed duo Bestial Avenger and Corpsebutcher will at the same time pierce your ears and smash your head with their extreme aggression and speed. It’s clear that slamming is their business, and business is good, as in the high-octane Fear Toxin we’re treated to more of the infernal screams by The Hellstörm and the unstoppable drums by Mortar in what’s perhaps the song with the most Black Metal riffs of all, while tribal beats and a hellish atmosphere are offered to the listener in Omega Red, sounding darker and more introspective than its predecessors, and showcasing another brutal job done by Bestial Avenger armed with his devilish guitar. Ragehammer keep distilling their demonic hybrid of extreme styles in the fast and furious Dragon City, where the rebellious gnarls by The Hellstörm are effectively supported by his bandmates’ backing vocals while Mortar doesn’t stop hammering his drums not even for a single second. And finally, a Stygian, somber intro darkly evolves into a massive wall of sounds in the imposing 8-minute aria titled Prophet of Genocide Part II (Mother Winter Eternal), the sequel to “Prophet of Genocide” from their 2012 demo War Hawks, with The Hellstörm investing into more anguished vocal lines while its second half presents Ragehammer’s usual sonic devastation.

I bet you can’t wait to join Ragehammer and head into certain death to the sound of their warlike metal music, and in order to do so simply pay the guys a visit on Facebook and (soon) purchase a copy of their breathtaking new album from the Pagan Records’ BandCamp or webstore in CD or LP format. The Hellstörm, Bestial Avenger, Corpsebutcher and Mortar nailed it once again with Into Certain Death, elevating their status in their homeland (and anywhere else in the world where ass-kicking extreme music is appreciated) from just a promise to one of the best and most entertaining acts of the underground scene, beautifully translating into their wicked creations exactly what Blackened Thrash Metal is all about.

Best moments of the album: We Are the Hammer, Jesus Goat and 616. TerrorKorps.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2020 Pagan Records

Track listing
1. Beneath the Red Suns 1:45
2. We Are the Hammer 3:58
3. Jesus Goat 3:29
4. Peace 4:25
5. Na Pewną Śmierć 4:28
6. 616. TerrorKorps 4:00
7. Fear Toxin 4:38
8. Omega Red 5:46
9. Dragon City 4:47
10. Prophet of Genocide Part II (Mother Winter Eternal) 8:54

Band members
The Hellstörm – vocals
Bestial Avenger – guitars
Corpsebutcher – bass
Mortar – drums

Album Review – Odraza / Rzeczom (2020)

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A unique and caustic album of Black Metal made in Poland about myths, projections, appearances, fears we fight, and the legacy we cannot deny.

Formed in the year of 2009 in the obscure basements and gray courtyards of the charming city of Kraków, in Lesser Poland by vocalist, guitarist and bassist Stawrogin (Gruzja, Massemord and Totenmesse) and guitarist, bassist and drummer Priest (Massemord, Totenmesse and Voidhanger), the Stygian Black Metal duo known as Odraza, or “disgust” from Polish, returns from the pits of the underworld with their sophomore studio album Rzeczom (“things”), the follow up to their 2014 debut opus Esperalem Tkane. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Impressive-Art Studio in Beskidu Małego, Poland, and portraying the stunning Polish model Dorota Maria Kuźmicka as its cover art, Rzeczom will take you on a dark and captivating journey through the wicked world of Odraza. “We dedicate Rzeczom to ourselves, the authors. It is a diary; excerpts from our lives and the lives of the people once close to us come across the words by the authors that inspire us. It is about myths, about projections, appearances, fears we fight, and the legacy we cannot deny. It is also about the lie – after all, it is but us who decide how many of those memories reflect what has never been,” darkly commented the duo about their new and weird creation.

In the opening tune titled Schadenfreude (“malicious joy” or “spitefulness” from German), an eerie, cryptic intro quickly explodes into modern and visceral Black Metal led by the duo’s scorching riffs, with Priest blasting savagery and intricacy through his beats nonstop. The album couldn’t have started in a better (and more venomous) way, I might say, with the duo’s rumbling bass igniting the title-track Rzeczom, sounding as if Triptykon went full Blackened Doom. Moreover, Stawrogin growls and barks like a true demonic beast throughout the entire song, spiced up by somber passages and vicious backing vocals, resulting in a song definitely not recommended for the lighthearted. Then back to a more ferocious and berserk mode those Polish metallers fire the Behemoth-inspired W Godzinie Wilka (“at the hour of the wolf”), bringing to our ears Blackened Death Metal at its finest with Stawrogin’s harsh gnarls being effectively supported by Priest’s pounding drums; whereas a serene, acoustic intro permeates the air in …Twoją Rzecz Też (“…your thing too”), evolving into a metallic and alternative, almost circus-like onrush of sounds showcasing the band’s versatility and their will to never sound outdated or repetitive.

Once again sounding wicked and vile form start to finish, the duo surprises us with another round of unusual extreme music in Długa 24 (“long 24”), where Stawrogin does a very entertaining job with both his darker vocals and his clean vociferations, followed by Świt Opowiadaczy (“dawn of the storytellers”), offering the listener six minutes of obscure passages and endless violence flowing from their damned instruments, with Priest stealing the spotlight with his frantic and intricate drumming. And venturing through the realms of Doom and Stoner Metal to give their core Black Metal an even more badass vibe, they offer us all Młot Na Małe Miasta (“a hammer for small towns”), with both Stawrogin and Priest extracting electricity from their stringed weapons and, therefore, keeping the album at a high level of obscurity and madness.

After such demented tune, we’re treated to Najkrótsza Z Wieczności (“the shortest of eternities”), a contemplative and melancholic display of extreme music made in Poland where Stawrogin devilishly declaims the song’s Polish words, being multi-layered and grim just the way we like it in Extreme Metal. Following this cryptic composition, a phantasmagorical storm is about to begin in Bempo, growing in intensity until morphing into ass-kicking Blackened Death Metal led by Priest’s always fulminating drums, also showcasing a razor-edged guitar solo by guest musician Azar. And last but not least, it’s time for Odraza to stun us once and for all with eight minutes of absolute darkness in the instrumental aria Ja Nie Stąd (“I’m not from here”), starting in a progressive and atmospheric manner and flowing beautifully to the riffage and beats by the band’s dynamic duo until its inevitable and ethereal end.

This precious gem of contemporary Black Metal made in Poland can be better appreciated in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course you should definitely buy a copy of the album from Odraza’s own BandCamp page, as well as from the Godz Ov War Productions’ BandCamp page or webstore and from Discogs, showing your true support to the talented Stawrogin and Priest and to the entire underground scene. Also, don’t forget to follow Odraza on Facebook and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for news, tour dates and more of their distinguished music. It doesn’t matter if you are a native Polish metalhead or if you don’t understand a single word said by the band in Rzeczom, this is the type of album that’s a must-have in your collection of dark and acid extreme music, and just like Odraza dedicated the album to themselves, you can go ahead a dedicate it to your own Black Metal persona in your most introspective moments in life.

Best moments of the album: Schadenfreude, W Godzinie Wilka and Młot Na Małe Miasta.

Worst moments of the album: Długa 24.

Released in 2020 Godz Ov War Productions

Track listing
1. Schadenfreude 4:18
2. Rzeczom 5:21
3. W Godzinie Wilka 4:50
4. …Twoją Rzecz Też 5:43
5. Długa 24 2:06
6. Świt Opowiadaczy 6:01
7. Młot Na Małe Miasta 5:41
8. Najkrótsza Z Wieczności 5:06
9. Bempo 6:29
10. Ja Nie Stąd 8:01

Band members
Stawrogin – vocals, guitars, bass
Priest – guitars, bass, drums

Guest musician
Azar – guitar solo on “Najkrótsza Z Wieczności” and “Bempo”