I have lost count of the Polish bands that I have reviewed recently, many of which you excellent bands. Here is another one, Srogość, a duo located in Paterek and active since 2013. The band is currently signed by Via Nocturna but has independently released a demo in 2013 and a full length in 2014. The first demo delivered rather stereotyped, according to me, and shoddily produced melodic black metal. But the band has then found its way, as evidenced by the first album W Szaleństwie.
On the tull length, band offers a more personal atmospheric black metal with symphonic elements here and there. Far from being a cutting-edge album, W Szaleństwie shows that Srogość have thoroughly thought out their own sound in view of a personalization of their own style; they have thus avoided trite melodies and riffs in favour of a more elaborate groove in which however there are parts in tremolo as well. The guitar work is excellent and varied and some melodic approach is not missing; an extra touch of atmosphere is given by the synths, whose role is, however, never dominating. Sometimes, as in the solo of “Exodos”, the band proves to be able to think outside the box with atypical arrangements, almost inspired by non-metal genres; in these cases, Srogość also have something of a black'n roll band. The texts are in Polish, a language unknown to me; I can only guess that they are about apocalypse and destruction.
All in all, W Szaleństwie is an admirable effort; however, I think it is a bit flat and that it lacks that eeriness that black metal should have, but this may just be my personal taste. Otherwise, a good album.
Notes:
W Szaleństwie was self-released on August 22 2014. Srogość means ‘severity’ in English.
Tracklist:
1. W zatracenie
2. Supernova
3. Głębiny duch część II
4. W szaleństwie
5. Fantasmagorie
6. X-03
7. Exodos
8. Entropia
Personnel:
Erebos: All instruments
Susurrus: Vocals
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
On the tull length, band offers a more personal atmospheric black metal with symphonic elements here and there. Far from being a cutting-edge album, W Szaleństwie shows that Srogość have thoroughly thought out their own sound in view of a personalization of their own style; they have thus avoided trite melodies and riffs in favour of a more elaborate groove in which however there are parts in tremolo as well. The guitar work is excellent and varied and some melodic approach is not missing; an extra touch of atmosphere is given by the synths, whose role is, however, never dominating. Sometimes, as in the solo of “Exodos”, the band proves to be able to think outside the box with atypical arrangements, almost inspired by non-metal genres; in these cases, Srogość also have something of a black'n roll band. The texts are in Polish, a language unknown to me; I can only guess that they are about apocalypse and destruction.
All in all, W Szaleństwie is an admirable effort; however, I think it is a bit flat and that it lacks that eeriness that black metal should have, but this may just be my personal taste. Otherwise, a good album.
Notes:
W Szaleństwie was self-released on August 22 2014. Srogość means ‘severity’ in English.
Tracklist:
1. W zatracenie
2. Supernova
3. Głębiny duch część II
4. W szaleństwie
5. Fantasmagorie
6. X-03
7. Exodos
8. Entropia
Personnel:
Erebos: All instruments
Susurrus: Vocals
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
