Two (relatively) new bands on the metal landscape are Poland’s Garota and Scrüda, and thanks to record label Godz Ov War, they are united on one supremely heavy CD. Maybe it is growing up in a country where religion still holds oppressive sway but Poland is currently a hotbed of extreme metal (especially the blasphemous variety) but whatever the reason, if it keeps producing bands of this calibre, then long may it continue. Featuring seven tracks in a cool twenty two minutes, Czerń Północy is an uncompromising listen and one which threatens to melt your speakers.
The little warning with which Garota appear only adds to the shock of their arrival and ‘Zapomniane Groby’ is the musical equivalent of a detonated bomb. There are no preambles or fancy introductions with which to soften us up, just a hammer-smashing-skull of a riff with which to turn our brains to jelly and then the hounds of Hades are unleashed as the band scrawl their sound upon every surface, and in the most violent way. This track (like all three of their selections) perfectly straddles the line between black and thrash metal, existing in that magical space where the two genres fuse into a potent brew. It’s a bombastic and bloodstained opener and one which sets the tone for the coming disc; vocals are growled as if from Satan’s mouth, guitars solo spasmodically as if a planchette over an Ouija board, drums beat an evil tattoo, whilst the bass rumble which introduces the following ‘Mój Czarny Rytual Trwa’ is the stuff of Lemmy’s dreams. With the band locking in tightly and some neat time changes peppering their songs, the Garota experience never becomes staid and their selections on the disc make the perfect calling card.
Much extreme metal has its roots in hardcore punk and that’s definitely something that Scruda don’t shy away from. They have an exceptionally brutal sound and with the longest of their four songs clocking in at barely two-and-a-half minutes, they take the most direct line to what it’s all about. However, don’t mistake their brevity for lack of invention because there are more ideas in songs such as ‘To Idzie’ than most bands pack into an entire career. Each of these tracks is like a mini-epic and there’s a folkish quality that seems to echo back towards a distant age and drinks its sustenance from the deep well of Polish history. With a twin vocal, twin guitar assault they veer towards the heavier end of extreme metal, but a weighty rhythm section keeps them right on track and turns ‘Dno’ into an unstoppable force.
Despite its brief running time, this set feels opulent; it’s a Pandora’s Box overflowing with goodness and suggests that there’s much more to come from both bands.
- Czerń Północy is released via Godz Ov War Productions and is available now.
Track List:
- Zapomniane Groby *
- Mój Czarny Rytual Trwa *
- Gdzie Wiedźmy Tańczą Nago Z Diabłem *
- To Idzie **
- Węźowe Serce Nienawiści **
- Dno **
- Sąd Ostateczny **
* Garota
** Scrüda
