If any band were aptly-titled then it’s surely Poland’s Toughness. Peddling a rather nice line in progressive death metal, this quartet from Puławy, Lublin formed in 2020 and released a solid debut album in the shape of The Prophetic Dawn (reviewed here) a few years later. Upping the ante somewhat with their second long player Black Respite Of Oblivion, Toughness have honed their craft and delivered an album that’ll find them muscling their way to the centre of the worldwide death metal scene.

The great thing about death metal is that it is impervious to fads and trends, it’s a scene that’s been untainted by the mainstream and exists outside our current time frame. Therefore, the opening barrage that serves as the introduction to first track ‘Abominating The Scourge’ smokes like fresh kill, it’s vibrant and visceral and goes straight for the jugular. However, Toughness soon prove themselves a versatile beast and those expecting a constant musical pounding will be surprised because the band mix up tempos to great effect juxtaposing fast with slow and quiet sections with loud. It means that listening to ‘Abominating The Scourge’ is not unlike stepping into an echo chamber with sound pinging in all directions. Bands such as Atheist and Nocturnus are obviously a big inspiration on this crew and that influence is most evident in the progressive sections and almost jazzy breakdowns. Ziemowit Chalcinski’s bass is often used like a lead guitar and drives the band into unexpected territory and it’s never quite knowing what twist and turns the band will take next that makes this album such an engaging listen.

After a few line-up changes (drummer Maciej Grausztof joined in 2023 and guitarist Łukasz Wójtowicz in 2021, completing the band with founding members Bartosz Domański (vocals/guitar) alongside the aforementioned Ziemowit), Toughness have found an easy equilibrium, a musical chemistry the kind of which is essential when playing this type of technical music. They seem to share a telepathy, a sixth sense as to what each band member will do next and the result is an album that flows exceptionally well with the mind boggling musicianship on ‘Open Wounds Of The Forgotten Planet’ made to seem so easy, when in fact it’s totally complex. As befitting a death metal album, Bartosz’s vocals are unearthly and inhumane, and all the more impressive as they are recorded without effects. Aided by a deep, warm production Black Respite Of Oblivion is an album that weighs heavy upon the listener meaning final track ‘Vile Unrelenting Miscreancy’ will stay with you long after the disc has stopped spinning.

Black Respite Of Oblivion is the sound of a band full of confidence and rocking a signature sound and it could take them unexpected, exciting places.

• Black Respite Of Oblivion is released via Godz Ov War Productions and is available now.
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Track List:

1. Abominating The Scourge
2. The Profanity That Creates An Expression Of Pain At The Impossibility Of Ascending The Lower Realms
3. Black Respite Of Oblivion
4. Embrace Blackness
5. Carrion Entrails (Lost Abysmal Disbelief)
6. Condemned To Noxious Persistence
7. From The Shroud Of Human Disgrace
8. Open Wounds Of The Forgotten Planet
9. Vile Unrelenting Miscreancy