Poroniec – W Poł​ogu

Special thanks to the Catholic Church in Poland for being an endless source of fucking badass lyrical inspiration for many of the country’s extreme metal bands. Polish extreme metal has a tradition of attacking the Catholic Church in the country. The band Poroniec is actually a rare exception from the rule, as the band chooses a theme that contains a certain deep Christian reflection. It delas with the spirit of the unborn child that died as a result of abortion, which I know is the big case in Poland and some other mainly Catholic countries. From this point of view, it was very interesting to listen to their music and try to dwell deeper into the lyrical content and as a result of that the personal approach of the band members.

Who are Poroniec then? It’s a Krakow-based black metal trio consisting of; Ferment (all instruments & vocals), Wrzaskun (vocals) and The Fall (drum session). Their full-length debut is entitled W Poł​ogu, released on my birthday, March 15th, via Putrid Cult Records. On this new eight-tracker the unholy trio received additional help from Hekte Zaren (guest vocals on “Intro”, “Niedorzeczności”, “Moralności” and “Szlachetności”), then Justyna Walczyk (guest vocals on “Moralności” and “Mądrości”) and finally Harvest (guest vocals on “Intro”). These tracks are perfectly arranged, and all the elements fit together like a glove. Polish lyrics are always a plus, adding a bit mysticism and authenticity to their sound.

Thus, W Poł​ogu starts with an “Intro” with the purpose of creating the atmosphere and setting the pace and mood for the rest of the record. The atmosphere here is truly captivating and creepy if you will, featuring the voices of the spirit of the unborn child. “Nieprzystępni” is the first proper song where the band shows that they’re not just doing what hundreds of acts have done before them, but to create their own characteristic sound. “Niedorzeczności” is peppered with cool tunes, esp. in the beginning of the song. It’s been further spiced up with discreet and innovative drumming.

“Moralności” is one of the tracks that made the biggest impact on me, one about dragging through the blood from the womb. It’s a filthy and well-crafted song that will not be repeated for the rest of the album. Now we come to “Przypadłości”, the one some of you might remember from band’s previous demo release – this time polished and re-recorded. The album ends on a high note with a lengthy closure called “Watpliwości”.

From a production standpoint, the sound contained within is superb. The mix is warm and dynamic, and despite being polished, it still feels lively and organic. None other than Maciej Kamuda (Blut aus Nord, Kalt Vindur, Stillborn) appears to be responsible for the impressive cover.

W Poł​ogu is a bit lengthy, but since the breaks between songs have been eliminated, now the entire album appears to us as one long composition. Production is really good, which again results in W Połogu flowing freely, a bit like a musical stream of consciousness. Alongside a high level of arrangement, I am also impressed by the intensity and energy of the music. The described intensity of Poroniec’s music is not diminished by the ritual singing of Justyna Walczyk or Hekte Zaren. On the contrary, I think that they add an interesting value to W Połogu. The vocalist Ferment did also a great job on the album, obviously a very talented and diverse vocalist.

Poroniec is one of the most interesting upcoming extreme metal bands. W Połogou is definitely more than a decent, full-fledged debut release, they can be proud of. If you’re into filthy and greedy black metal, with a coarse grain of death metal of the highest order, then this is where you should tip in. Esp. recommended for worshippers of Polish extreme metal. W Połogou is a stunning release that should not be missed by fans of the genre.

More info on W Poł​ogu at https://poroniec.bandcamp.com/album/w-po-ogu