Cień – Maledictio

It is well known that Poland has an extremely vibrant black metal scene. Another good thing about Polish scene is that you don’t have to choose between quality vs. quantity, as with majority of Polish acts you can get both. I think Metal Revolution is one of the magazines/webzines who’s covered most bands from Poland, but this is our first encounter with quartet named Cień.

This Kraków based horde was founded in 2009, and they’ve released a couple of EPs, demo recording and three full-length albums namely; Ecce Homo (2014), Fate (2017) and Redemption (2021). Three years after their latest six-tracker Redemption these four guys have returned with a brand new recording, released by Old Temple. As stated in the beginning of this review, it’s our first encounter with Cień, so it won’t give any sense to compare it to its predecessors. Meanwhile what I can tell a few words about is this another six-tracker called Maledictio. What I can hear throughout these six songs (41 minutes running time) is a very much misanthropic and depressive black metal with lyrical themes dealing with Nihilism, Spiritualism, Misanthropy and similar some would say typical black metal themes. It’s just partly true, as these lyrics are supported by some powerful playing, well-rounded sound, and decent songwriting.

Tracklist:

1. Wounds Of Atonement
2. Sacred Abnegation
3. Inverted Cathedrals
4. Discipline
5. I.O.B.
6. A Curse That Never Withers

What I enjoyed most while listening to Maledictio is its varied nature. The songs offered here provide a good mixture of some slow, mid-paced, and epic parts. If we take album opener, “Wounds Of Atonement”, it’s powerful and heavy playing, with high-pitch screams and shouting vocals, massive riffing and hellish blood boiling drumming. Next one called “Sacred Abnegation” gets even more aggressive and rumbling, a real punch in the face black metal torment. On third song “Inverted Cathedrals” these guys prove that you don’t have to play at top speed to show your strength, as this one alongside “I.O.B.” are two of the ‘slowest’ tracks on Maledictio. In between two we find another interesting track named “Discipline” – one featuring some distorted riffs and hysterical and rapturous angry screams from their vocalist. The album closes with the longest and most epic song, “A Curse That Never Withers”. It’s depressively solemn track with nice atmospheres and venomous harmonies, ending the album on a high note.

Maledictio is clean, modern and well- produced album. The production is dark, yet atmospheric and very dense, perfectly suitable for this kind of music. With Maledictio, Cień has created an impressive, versatile and atmospherically dense album. Thus, if you like to settle- or find comfort in a black, nihilistic and depressive mood, then this album is definitely a must! Esp. for fans of Xasthur, Nocturnal Depression, None, Mutiilation and similar black and bleak acts.

For further information on this act and their fourth longplayer please visit https://oldtemple.bandcamp.com/album/cie-maledictio