Of Burning Stakes and Freedom
The hammer
felt steeply on my cranium. Totally unexpectedly, in spite of I’m not a witch
at all. By a miracle I guess, I found the band’s profile and fired “Za złamany
krzyż” song. And something has moved forward: a fast payment, not a fucking
download, and modestly yet neatly done digipak with convincing cover art landed
before my eyes. Released in an independent way (yes, sad and standard thing
here in Poland…), this debut album isn’t a work of the rookies as the musicians
have been torturing the instruments in the band called Fantasmagoria since
1999. Now with Polish name Młot na Czarownice (in English: ‘Hammer for the
Witches’), they hope for a better future, even if the general concept isn’t
anything new on the metal scene. The band’s name comes from Malleus Maleficarum written by Dominican
Heinrich Kramer and published in 1487 for the first time. Maybe not every song
is connected with this subject, although the verminous presence of the Holy
Inquisition is perceptible almost all the time. Hence it is impossible to find any
names of the local Pionki parish-priests that support the band on the back
cover I guess…
Anyway, the
vocalist Dawid spits the venom in Polish on the whole. Indeed, the bold step. But
for sure it is added value to the overall mark. Dawid sings in the middle
range, he doesn’t irritate, and with success doses tension and intensity of the
own lyrics, no matter if the softer sounds are concerned (“Horyzonty
niespełnienia” or “Przedwiosenny świt”) or the harder stuff hits ears. Musically
the band tries to explore the heavy metal area beyond the shadow of a doubt,
however I can be burnt at the Kramer’s stake if there are not heard hard-rock
and thrash influences, especially in “Młot na czarownice”, “Za złamany krzyż”
or “Psy ogrodnika” with Polish Kat’s mark here and there. Howsoever the opening
track may you mislead. It is not a fast and the shortest one in a family, but
the main riff is a… pure melodic Sweden played a slower way. Fat chance? Not
really, just take a listen to a fragment at 1:28 too. The thing good for
“Slaughter of the Souls” album! Then the next one is a proof the musicians are
pretty gifted to show some variety in the heavy structures: thrashing-like
licks and acoustic calmness in the middle. Good that the band doesn’t let me
yawn when they throw some sand into my face in oriental-like “Czas zastygłych
istnień”, fast killers like “Fantasmagoria” or the title song are mixed with
aforementioned quasi-ballads decorated by beautiful and as calm as a millpond
beginnings…
Exactly,
the “Przedwiosenny świt” track. It’s perfect, believe me, with its overall
atmosphere, mind crushing bass lines and phenomenal ending. But! This track is
the beginning of the most exciting part of the album. Next-to-last is “Psy
ogrodnika” with a really good portion of Dawid’s lyrics, maintained mostly in
not so fast pace, bursts out with killing riffs and catchy chorus parts. And
the last one, called “Nija”. After all these fruitful meetings with “Popioły
wiar” I must admit: this is the best song here. It contains of all the elements
the band should be proud of. Spectacular, dreamy introduction blossomy (yes,
this is the adequate word) by splendid melodies, like a ballad from the best
well-known crews, it possess my senses and keep them tightly. Then it turns
into fast heavy metal avalanche giving paralyzing guitar lead that splits the
air after mysterious Dawid’s declamation. Yep, really fine closing shot that
left me speechless.
And if this
shapely conglomerate is served in a good and interesting way, lyrics are the
salt of the main course. They are neither stupid nor about proud dragon
warriors. And… it’s enough. All right, maybe the general band’s concept has
been predetermined earlier, although the author isn’t going to take a short cut.
To put it briefly, one searches in vain for such words like ‘inquisition’,
‘church’ or even Heinrich Kramer, yet it is very clear that Dawid doesn’t want
to put a copy of Malleus Maleficarum
on the bookshelf as essential reading for young seminarists. Mostly the lyrics
are for individual insight, yet I have impression that for Dawid the human
stainless freedom, both spiritual and carnal, is the most important.
The
releasing date isn’t random. The first of June couldn’t be better. My dear
caring parents, leave the plastic shitty world you only know and buy your
offsprings a real music, the age here is of no avail. Why can’t you start with
this album? The Pionki district should be proud of this quintet that inculcates
the only right musical form. Yes, it has been rooted deeply in the ancient
times, yet the guys used vivacious nowaday colors to paint it all. Their
foot-bridge between the epochs is very comfortable, without any holdbacks,
making the final result nothing less than good. The future looks pretty promising
for them, I hope they find finally a good label to promote MNC’s name and
infect the minds of heavy metal worshippers. Ah, and one more thing on the end.
I saw one review (probably the first one…) of this album and read about not so good
and too raw production wise. What a nonsense! Raw? These sounds are complete
contrary: they breathe organically, strongly with no any artificial moments,
showing slashing Dominik’s bass parts as well. Demontażownia headquarters did a
really good job!
And if the
football team from Pionki has ‘powder’ in its name, then MNC is Schwerer Gustav.
Maybe not with a nuclear flurry yet, but musicians made my mouth waters. As of
now, I look forward to the hammer strike number two.
90/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written in July, 2015)
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