Polish Metal

Ars Magna Umbrae – Lunar Ascension Review

By Cherd on January 22, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 151 comments

“Dissonant black metal is having a bit of a moment. With the late-aughts explosion of woodsy atmoblack now a decade old and on the wane—if ever so slightly—and artists turning to other inspiration for blackened evolution, those reclusive and mysterious French musicians of Deathspell/Aus Nord who first pioneered a more technical, terrifying sound are suddenly elder statesmen of a mini-movement. Now there’s K. M., the appropriately cryptic single member of Poland’s Ars Magna Umbrae, with a new album of dissoblack tunes.” Magna opus.

Kriegsmaschine – Apocalypticists [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Akerblogger on December 12, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, No Solace, Polish Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Black Metal, 55 comments

“Basic blasts, hammer blasts, gravity blasts, heel-toe blasts, bomb blasts, swivelling foot bomb blasts. Extreme metal certainly has all bases covered when it comes to extreme technical drumming. It’s a race, people. Who can play the fastest? Who can hit those hollow boxes the hardest? Who can sweat the most? Speed isn’t everything. In fact, speed can be a hindrance. Black metal is mostly known for its speed and rage, but its greatest asset is it’s ability to formulate a sense of unease and evilness. For Kriegsmaschine evilness and unease are achieved not through blistering speed and ridiculous technical acrobatics, but by taking a step back and approaching things from a different angle.” Murder maschines.

Gorycz – Piach Review

By Lokasenna on December 1, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Pagan Records, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 15 comments

“There are certain things that will always warm a music reviewer’s cold, dead heart. Poland’s Gorycz, for example, made a good impression on me immediately, as I opened the promo to an actual lyric sheet. Granted, that wasn’t much help with reviewing their debut, Piach, as my knowledge of Polish goes only a little further than “kurwa,” but it’s the thought that counts. The band choosing to write in their mother tongue was, in fact, only another point in their favor for a multiculturalism-loving cuck like myself.” First impressions matter.

Vane – Black Vengeance Review

By Holdeneye on November 28, 2018 in 2018, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Moshpit Promotions, Polish Metal, Reviews, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 60 comments

“If you’re anything like me, you often find yourself pondering the great questions of the universe. For instance, like me you’ve probably wondered what would happen if Lamb of God and Kataklysm made sweet love while Alestorm sat in the corner reading them a bedtime story. Unlike most of the big questions plaguing humanity, we no longer have to speculate on this one. Polish band Vane love drama on the high seas, and on their debut album Black Vengeance, they throw their three-pointed hat into the hotly contested ring of pirate metal. Is this going to be worth the pay-per-view fee?” Hoist the N00bs and batten down the skull pit!

Mentor – Cults, Crypts and Corpses Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 9, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Pagan Records, Polish Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 24 comments

“This will stand as one of the most random introductions I’ve ever written. But the thought sprung to mind and, now, here we go. I dislike the word ‘mentor.’ But not for reasons you might expect. My dislike for the word has nothing to do with a bad experience as/with a mentor or mentee, or anything else along those lines. I hate the word because of how it rolls off my tongue. I’ve heard it pronounced as ‘mentor’ and as ‘menter.’ Yet, I’m incapable of saying the word as others around me say it. Instead, my enunciation transforms me into someone from The Great British Baking Show.” Mentor, mentee, manatee.

Totenmesse – To Review

By El Cuervo on November 6, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Death Metal, Pagan Records, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 32 comments

“To was advertised to me as “dark ambient” and it felt mightily appropriate to absorb something subtle and atmospheric considering the (finally) dropping temperatures here in Western Europe. Alas, it was immediately apparent to me that it is, in fact, black metal of the Polish ilk and while it may be dark, it most certainly demanded my attention more directly than ambient. In many ways, it’s typical of the Polish scene to draw on death metal in the formulation of its black metal. But is there more to say beyond this?” Come for the genre mislabeling, stay for the Polish hospitality.

Outre – Hollow Earth Review

By Akerblogger on October 25, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 71 comments

“Another day another cryptic European black metal band. I’m certainly not complaining. Between the 90s and today, impulsive, anarchistic satanism has been replaced by the sophisticated, wine drinking sort: we’re all very smart these days, you see. Nature, religion and the occult have been approached with kaleidoscopic freedom in the lyrics and instrumentation of black metal bands for many years, but Poland particularly has spawned many bands of this mysterious, enigmatic variety.” The Polish Hammer.

Behemoth – I Loved You at Your Darkest Review

By Angry Metal Guy on October 8, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Nuclear Blast, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 189 comments

“"Behemoth’s star has been on the rise for nearly 15 years. Following the release of 2004’s Demigod and 2007’s The Apostasy, these Poles toured frenetically in the USA and Europe, building a huge fanbase based on their dominant live presence and hooky blackened death sound. Their hard work paid dividends when they were picked up by Nuclear Blast, resulting in 2009’s Evangelion. But while neither The Apostasy nor Evangelion were a tour de force equal to Demigod, Behemoth delivered on 2014’s The Satanist, which showcased the darkest, most mature writing of Nergal’s career. But great records are tough to follow, and the rounds of snickering that ensued following the release of the title I Loved You at Your Darkest and the album’s first single—”God=Dog”—hinted at skepticism among fans." Maybe The Satanist was an exception, not the establishment of a new rule?” Loving the evil sinner.

Spaceslug – Eye the Tide Review

By Huck N Roll on July 26, 2018 in 2018, BSFD Records, Doom Metal, Polish Metal, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Stoner Metal, 65 comments

“Okay, I’ve got a question: do stoner rock bands write and play high, or do they just cater to those in the world who like to listen to their music while drifting in a haze of smoke? I don’t know any bands of this particular style personally, so I can’t ask them. I do remember Keith Richards once saying, ‘Don’t play high until you can play sober.’ Or maybe it was Jaco Pastorius. Or Jimi Hendrix. Or Thelonius Monk. Or Charlie Parker. Augh, I don’t know! Regardless, it’s a question I have whenever I listen to a stoner metal album, and today’s entry from Polish band Spaceslug is no exception.” Space Slug, motherf_cker.

Throneum – The Tight Deathrope Act over Rubicon Review

By Mark Z. on July 12, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Death Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 40 comments

“You’ve got to hand it to Throneum. Back in 2016 I took a big steaming metaphorical shit all over their Morbid Death Tales album, and less than two years later the raw death metal trio have come right back with nearly an hour of new music. And they even sent us the promo, to boot! Clearly the Polish troupe must be quite proud of their Tight Deathrope Act over Rubicon, but lingering memories of Death Tales’ shithouse production and underdeveloped songwriting left me reluctant to snag this regardless.” Walk the Deathrope.