Abusiveness (and other Polish bands)

 

Poland is a country with an absolutely incredible black metal scene. While I have already talked about the titans of classic Polish black metal--Graveland and Behemoth--I'd like to talk about some noteworthy mid-tier level bands of the early second wave. Let's start with ABUSIVENESS, from the city of Lublin.

Founded in 1991, Abusiveness emerged at the time when Soviet bloc countries were transitioning to Western-style democracies. In places like Poland, this saw a flourishing of previously-banned ideologies, like pre-Christian paganism. Abusiveness embraced paganism with a passion, and those once-outlawed ideologies become their raison d'etre.

Despite forming in '91, Abusiveness's first sonic assault on the world didn't emerge until 1994. The demo Parentalia was a lo-fi slab of black metal with a heavy dose of synth for atmosphere. Listen below:

Here is the complete Parentalia demo

The '90s saw Abusiveness remain a mostly underground phenomenon, with a slew of demos and a split with fellow countrymen Hefeystos (see below). By the early 2000s, though, they had signed with major labels and begun releasing studio albums proper.

From Krzyk świtu, this is "Mogila"

On albums like 2002's Krzyk świtu and 2007's Hybris, Abusiveness played a style of black metal that was the perfect mix of raw, in-your-face evil, and majestic synths, with lyrics praising their Slavic heritage. In the Polish scene, there are few that sound like them.

"Fame of Arkona" comes from the album Hybris

Select Discography:

Parentalia (demo) (1994)

Visibilium Invisibilium (demo) (1996)

Dwie twarze mroku (demo) (1997)
Watrajar (split with Hefeystos) (2000)

Krzyk świtu (full-length album) (2002)

Hybris (full-length album) (2007)

Trioditis (full-length album) (2010)

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HEFEYSTOS--already mentioned in connection with their split album with Abusiveness--is an important band in the Polish scene, despite their limited output. Formed in 1994, Hefeystos became known relatively quickly for their gothic-tinged symphonic black metal. After a self-titled demo, they went on to release a self-titled album in 1996.

"Magiczny strumień" comes from their 1996 album

Their self-titled album was a moody gothic black metal masterpiece. Comparable to Moonspell, Opera IX, or perhaps even early Cradle of Filth's more synth-heavy moments, 1996's Hefeystos was a testament to the true beauty in darkness.

After this release, Hefeystos's second full-length album was a little too experimental for most black metal fans. But they still remain a crucial band in the history of second-wave Polish black metal.

Select Discography:

Hefeystos (demo) (1995)

Hefeystos (full-length album) (1996)

Vilce sjen (split with Abusiveness) (1997)

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MASTIPHAL, from Katowice, is kind of the flip side of the coin that is Hefeystos. Where Hefeystos used synths to achieve a mystical, gothic atmosphere, and the guitar playing complemented it, Mastiphal went in the opposite direction. Their angry, evil guitars set the tone for their music, and instrumental, synth-heavy passages merely hinted at a folksy mood.

From their major '90s album, this is "Flames of Fire Full of Hatred"

After going on hiatus for over a decade, Mastiphal returned with a vengeance in the late '00s as blasphemous as ever. I especially recommend their song "Rituals" from the great compilation of Polish black metal Silesian Black Attack, below:

Select Discography:

Sowing Profane Seed (demo) (1994)

For a Glory of All Evil Spirits, Rise for Victory (full-length album) (1995)

Promo '96 (demo) (1996)

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Perhaps my favorite mid-level Polish band from this time period is NORTH. Hailing from Toruń, North formed in 1992. Their raw, stripped-down version of pagan black metal has been compared to some of Norway's best and brightest (or darkest?).

This is the title track from their first demo

What I love about North is their unique guitar tone. I can think of few mainstream black metal bands that have such a vile tone. I like to think of it as the black metal equivalent of the buzzsaw Swedish/Sunlight Studios sound, with a hint of Darkthrone's Transilvanian Hunger. Listen below: 

"The Heretic Kingdom" is from North's first full-length

Select Discography:

Entering the Dark Kingdom (demo) (1993)

As my Kingdom Rises (demo) (1993)

Promo reh. '94 (demo) (1994)

Thorns on the Black Rose (full-length album) (1995)

Jesienne szepty (split with Sacrilegium) (1996)

Sovereigns of Northernlands (split with Grom and Marhoth) (1996)

From the Dark Past (1998)

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Other bands from the early second wave of Polish black metal worth a mention are GROM, SACRILEGIUM, THEMGOROTH, and SAURON. They all made their mark on Polish black metal,  but never quite achieved legendary status. 

Select Discography:

(in alphabetical order)

GROM, Na granicy dwoch swiatow (demo) (1995)

SACRILEGIUM, Sleeptime (demo) (1994)

---, Wicher (full-length album) (1996)

---, Recidivus (demo) (1998)

---, Embrace the Darkness (demo) (1999)

SAURON, Hellish Requiem (demo) (1993)

---, The Baltic Fog (demo) (1995)

THEMGOROTH, Demo '94 (1994)

---, Gate to the Unknown... (full-length album) (1995)

---, Highway into the Unknown (full-length album) (1998)

Next time: DARKTHRONE hits their peak