Saltus are a Polish black / death metal band from Warsaw formed back in 1997. The band has a long career behind, but it has released only two full-length albums, respectively in 2005 and 2007, plus a number of EP's and splits; this year the band has even released a live album. The band has also two compilations in its curriculum, the second of which is the band’s latest studio release to date and also the subject of this review.
Well, this compilation is titled W imię bogów and contains nine tracks, of which tracks 1-5 are from the split with Abusiveness Nowa era released in 2010, while tracks 6-9 are from the Promo 2002. It is interesting that Saltus have wanted to gather in one release material from two previous minor releases. In this way, the listener can get an idea about the band's history, and the development of its sound even if this history stops in 2010. I do not think that today the band sounds like it did back in 2010; I have listened to an EP, Jedność, released in 2015 prior to the compilation, and yes, the sound is very different. However, W imię bogów is a very good album, and a pleasant listening experience. The older songs (6-9) are more into death metal, with a certain fury and rage and a more intensive use of groove and blast beats, compared with the more recent songs (1-5) that show a more melodic approach that in some cases is reminiscent of Dissection of the The Somberlain period.
The production and sound quality is more than decent, which I always appreciate. The lyrics are unfortunately in Polish, so I am not able to figure out what they are about. In short, a good album that I recommend.
Notes:
Release date: September 6 2015 on Via Nocturna. Tracks 1-5 are from the split with Abusiveness Nowa era (2010); tracks 6-9 are from the Promo 2002.
Personnel:
Tracks 1-5:
Sound engineering by Paweł Janos Grabowski
Music by Saltus
Keyboard by Kargoth
Lyrics by Wojnar, Scream, Bithorn
Lineup:
Scream – guitar, vocals
Bithorn – bass
Mortifer – guitar
Imp – drums
Tracks 6-9:
Sound engineering by Jacek Melnicki
Music by Saltus
Lyrics by Wojnar / Greg
Lineup:
Greg – vocals
Sokaris – guitar
Aldaron – bass
Bithorn – guitar
Imp – Drums
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
Well, this compilation is titled W imię bogów and contains nine tracks, of which tracks 1-5 are from the split with Abusiveness Nowa era released in 2010, while tracks 6-9 are from the Promo 2002. It is interesting that Saltus have wanted to gather in one release material from two previous minor releases. In this way, the listener can get an idea about the band's history, and the development of its sound even if this history stops in 2010. I do not think that today the band sounds like it did back in 2010; I have listened to an EP, Jedność, released in 2015 prior to the compilation, and yes, the sound is very different. However, W imię bogów is a very good album, and a pleasant listening experience. The older songs (6-9) are more into death metal, with a certain fury and rage and a more intensive use of groove and blast beats, compared with the more recent songs (1-5) that show a more melodic approach that in some cases is reminiscent of Dissection of the The Somberlain period.
The production and sound quality is more than decent, which I always appreciate. The lyrics are unfortunately in Polish, so I am not able to figure out what they are about. In short, a good album that I recommend.
Notes:
Release date: September 6 2015 on Via Nocturna. Tracks 1-5 are from the split with Abusiveness Nowa era (2010); tracks 6-9 are from the Promo 2002.
Personnel:
Tracks 1-5:
Sound engineering by Paweł Janos Grabowski
Music by Saltus
Keyboard by Kargoth
Lyrics by Wojnar, Scream, Bithorn
Lineup:
Scream – guitar, vocals
Bithorn – bass
Mortifer – guitar
Imp – drums
Tracks 6-9:
Sound engineering by Jacek Melnicki
Music by Saltus
Lyrics by Wojnar / Greg
Lineup:
Greg – vocals
Sokaris – guitar
Aldaron – bass
Bithorn – guitar
Imp – Drums
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
