Gontyna Kry
Sciezka Zapomnianych Prawd
[Battlefield]
This is a compilation of tracks from four demos by this Polish NSBM band. Not all of the tracks from each demo are included, so the original tapes aren't devalued. I'm going to refer to the tracks and demos by number since there are some wacky foreign characters at work here.
The first demo represented is the earliest, from 1994, and is hideously raw. Significantly though, the music already has a noticeable folk component. This is not the best material on the disc, and the vocals are admittedly somewhat comical, but this is already good stuff. Two guitars are put to use in creating some excellent melodies.
The 1995 demo is introduced by track 4, the first of several "interlude" songs on the CD. This is incredibly well done. Imagine the synth layer from one of the songs on 'In the Nightside Eclipse' by itself. There's real talent here. Track 5 is incredible. Acoustic guitar and crashing waves perfectly set up a majestic song recalling Graveland circa "The Gates to the Kingdom of Darkness", but this is more about subtly shifting textures than hammering repetition. The buzzing guitars bob and weave in changing patterns under a dominant synth. There's even some in-key male singing! Track 6 expands on the format of track 5, adding more aggressive vocals and recognizable riffs, both guitar and bass. This is powerful, powerful stuff.
Track 7 is taken from the '96 demo. It's an "Intro" and consists of a monologue in Polish with heavy echo added, all over some simple acoustic instrumentation. I'm sure this would mean more to a Polish speaker but at least it doesn't interrupt the flow much. Track 8 is a brief duet between electric and acoustic guitars. Track 9 is the biggest surprise; it sounds like Destruction and has more brutal vocals than the previous songs. Track 10 is also more metallic sounding but still interesting. These two songs are quite a departure but well done. This is what Behemoth's 'Grom' should've been.
The final three tracks are taken from the 'Welowie' demo '97, which was already pressed on CD. Track 11 is the longest and most developed song on the disc. Bizarre stuttering drumming leads the way as the electric guitar plays powerful Polish sounding riffs assisted alternately by acoustic guitar and very light synth. At around four minutes in, there's a pause to introduce fast, ringing blast riffs to climax the song. The final two tracks are atmosphere builders.
This is quite a mixed bag, since about half of the tracks aren't pure metal songs, and among those that are there are several styles of black metal. Still, there's a thread of excellence throughout this work and I'm anxious to hear what the band can do in a full length format.
© 2001 j.s.
The first demo represented is the earliest, from 1994, and is hideously raw. Significantly though, the music already has a noticeable folk component. This is not the best material on the disc, and the vocals are admittedly somewhat comical, but this is already good stuff. Two guitars are put to use in creating some excellent melodies.
The 1995 demo is introduced by track 4, the first of several "interlude" songs on the CD. This is incredibly well done. Imagine the synth layer from one of the songs on 'In the Nightside Eclipse' by itself. There's real talent here. Track 5 is incredible. Acoustic guitar and crashing waves perfectly set up a majestic song recalling Graveland circa "The Gates to the Kingdom of Darkness", but this is more about subtly shifting textures than hammering repetition. The buzzing guitars bob and weave in changing patterns under a dominant synth. There's even some in-key male singing! Track 6 expands on the format of track 5, adding more aggressive vocals and recognizable riffs, both guitar and bass. This is powerful, powerful stuff.
Track 7 is taken from the '96 demo. It's an "Intro" and consists of a monologue in Polish with heavy echo added, all over some simple acoustic instrumentation. I'm sure this would mean more to a Polish speaker but at least it doesn't interrupt the flow much. Track 8 is a brief duet between electric and acoustic guitars. Track 9 is the biggest surprise; it sounds like Destruction and has more brutal vocals than the previous songs. Track 10 is also more metallic sounding but still interesting. These two songs are quite a departure but well done. This is what Behemoth's 'Grom' should've been.
The final three tracks are taken from the 'Welowie' demo '97, which was already pressed on CD. Track 11 is the longest and most developed song on the disc. Bizarre stuttering drumming leads the way as the electric guitar plays powerful Polish sounding riffs assisted alternately by acoustic guitar and very light synth. At around four minutes in, there's a pause to introduce fast, ringing blast riffs to climax the song. The final two tracks are atmosphere builders.
This is quite a mixed bag, since about half of the tracks aren't pure metal songs, and among those that are there are several styles of black metal. Still, there's a thread of excellence throughout this work and I'm anxious to hear what the band can do in a full length format.
© 2001 j.s.