Odraza - Esperalem Tkane
More and more debut albums seem to hitting an impressive level of talent these days and I'd put that down to bands not wanting to get off to a bad start and so practicing their playing and writing skills more before unveiling their work into the public's critical eye. It wasn't always so! Polish black metal duo Odraza have a whole host of other projects that they work including another black metal band that both protagonists (Priest & Stawrogin) feature in, Massemord and so their song writing abilities and musical talents should already be pretty sharp. As a result their debut offering released this year through Arachnophobia Records is something you really should get a hold of!
Opening track 'Niech Sie Dzieje' which translates as 'Let it Happen' is a powerful beginning, featuring as it does a strong instrumental opening that highlights the bands prowess when it comes to song craft as well as the duo's technical abilities. Sporting a mid paced flow, this track soon kicks into full gear with a more grinding style that isn't keen to hash out generic black metal fare and whilst in brief spurts of aggression the blast beats come to the fore, generally this opening gambit is a blend of grueling guttural vocals, haunting chant like interludes, gripping guitar melodies and catchy passages of faster riffs and beats. If 'Niech Sie Dzieje'was a progressive sounding lesson in complexity then 'Wielki Mizogin' (Great Mysogynist) is the anti-thesis to that rule, a fast and brutal short sharp shock of old school black metal fused with deep running catchy grooves to keep things enticing and to make sure the bands hooks don't come loose. As if to keep you guessing though the albums title track 'Esperalem Tkany' is a ten minute long epic of subtle, almost calming tones mixed with colder, contrasting and volatile black metal tones. Odraza's competancy at building their music up slowly into a crescendo of noise and passion is remarkable and throughout the title tracks tenure you are never truly aware of where this impressive duo might take you!
After such a draining monolith of a song the band take a moment of reflection with the short and instrumental 'Cicha 8' before opening up once more into the ravenous riffs and blast beats of 'Gorycz'(Bitterness) Here Odraza demonstrate true old school black metal savageness throughout this devastatingly angry track, displaying levels of catchy hostility and venom fueled rebellion in equal measure. Penultimate track 'Próg' is a more hazard strewn gruelling affair displaying all of the bands bitterness and angst! Again the harsh sounding blast beats are rolled out along with some exceptionally dark undertones and the bands trademark guttural vocals and rampaging riffs. At other times its cold feel and tortured sound remind me of other debut offerings from bands such as Grift and Revelation's Hammer, both high accolades indeed from this humble writer! To finish with Odraza roll out one last epic, the eleven minute finale that is 'Tam, Gdzie Nas Nie Spotkamy'! Here Odraza harness everything that's good about their style and channel it into an unforgettable swansong, bringing to a close a truly superb debut effort!
Opening track 'Niech Sie Dzieje' which translates as 'Let it Happen' is a powerful beginning, featuring as it does a strong instrumental opening that highlights the bands prowess when it comes to song craft as well as the duo's technical abilities. Sporting a mid paced flow, this track soon kicks into full gear with a more grinding style that isn't keen to hash out generic black metal fare and whilst in brief spurts of aggression the blast beats come to the fore, generally this opening gambit is a blend of grueling guttural vocals, haunting chant like interludes, gripping guitar melodies and catchy passages of faster riffs and beats. If 'Niech Sie Dzieje'was a progressive sounding lesson in complexity then 'Wielki Mizogin' (Great Mysogynist) is the anti-thesis to that rule, a fast and brutal short sharp shock of old school black metal fused with deep running catchy grooves to keep things enticing and to make sure the bands hooks don't come loose. As if to keep you guessing though the albums title track 'Esperalem Tkany' is a ten minute long epic of subtle, almost calming tones mixed with colder, contrasting and volatile black metal tones. Odraza's competancy at building their music up slowly into a crescendo of noise and passion is remarkable and throughout the title tracks tenure you are never truly aware of where this impressive duo might take you!
After such a draining monolith of a song the band take a moment of reflection with the short and instrumental 'Cicha 8' before opening up once more into the ravenous riffs and blast beats of 'Gorycz'(Bitterness) Here Odraza demonstrate true old school black metal savageness throughout this devastatingly angry track, displaying levels of catchy hostility and venom fueled rebellion in equal measure. Penultimate track 'Próg' is a more hazard strewn gruelling affair displaying all of the bands bitterness and angst! Again the harsh sounding blast beats are rolled out along with some exceptionally dark undertones and the bands trademark guttural vocals and rampaging riffs. At other times its cold feel and tortured sound remind me of other debut offerings from bands such as Grift and Revelation's Hammer, both high accolades indeed from this humble writer! To finish with Odraza roll out one last epic, the eleven minute finale that is 'Tam, Gdzie Nas Nie Spotkamy'! Here Odraza harness everything that's good about their style and channel it into an unforgettable swansong, bringing to a close a truly superb debut effort!
- Niech Się Dzieje
- Wielki Mizogin
- Esperalem Tkany
- Cicha 8
- Gorycz
- Próg
- Tam, Gdzie Nas Nie Spotkamy
Label: http://www.arachnophobia.pl
Reviewer: Luke Hayhurst
Jun 30, 2014
Jun 30, 2014
Next review:
Arch Enemy - War Eternal
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