Modern societies with their increasing amount of addiction-causing things, urban filth, cruelty towards other living species, and general neglect is very distressing stuff to behold. And to feel it, to live it, is a truly person-changing occasion, or making one losing his/her person. Polish newcomers Odraza (translates to "disgust") rise from a gutter to present this all dressed up into musical form. Can you take it? Can it help you to live in such a society, or bring you for the last time?

The album starts with ominous, demented and somewhat aggressive atmospheres. A lot of this is achieved with semi-clean, tremolo style guitar playing and string-pulling. The soundscape is very stripped down, yet still it also gives way to small nuances. And playing here is filled with nuances. It is pulsating and rummaging, especially when the pace gets fast, almost blasting, on Polish black metal style parts. The rhythm section sounds very authentic, as there's no triggered drum. So force matters! It's giving good backing for rather tremolo-based guitar wor, and offers a lot of various stuff; anything from basic to busy to progressive playing. These two guys are from bands such as Medico Peste, Massemord and Voidhanger. Odraza is closest to Medico Peste, but still an individual entity. This isn't so much like aggressive black metal. The vocals are human-sounding growling and shouting, with some more high-pitched, nasty black metal voice.

So, the main focus is on ominous and warped, plus more black metal-ish things. However, there's something else to be heard. Some D-beat, punky stuff surfaces especially on second track. There are bluesy and jazzy bits embedded into the music. Eerie harmonica is another thing that should be mentioned. Odraza are that much more avant garde-ish. On last two tracks things get rather Opeth-esque ('Morningrise' era [1996]) at times; prog, jazz and metal united, often in beautiful way. While thinking about rejoining black metal and harmonica, or any other odd choice here, still nothing sounds out-of-place.

The lyrics are in Polish, so I cannot get anything out of this that way. However, the music can submit the feelings and atmospheres, and this is an album one can feel. It is far from an easy listening experience, but I believe it this actually carries some remedial features. Or then it might drive some towards worse addictions or something else equally dark. Definitely not for everyone, but if your keen for Polish black metal, but are ready to take some steps further, then what are you waiting for?!

Rating: 6½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
01/21/2015 22:33