I won’t deny I have been waiting for this album for a very long time, indeed. I am even more happy that we are dealing here with the band who`ve returned after a 30-year hiatus. And they did it with class…I am talking about DESTROYERS from Bytom and their brand-new album  Dziewięć Kręgów Zła. Well, it’s been 29 years since The Miseries of Virtue was out, but I am sure after I`ve listened to these eight, brand-new tracks: it was worth waiting! Dziewięć… is a solid dose of classic heavy metal, plain and simple. I will also add that this album is one of the very few instances when a band, after a long break, have been able to create an album which takes up where the previous full-length recording left off. I have been “devouring” this album for a couple of days now and I am truly impressed with how these fellows were able to record music so perfectly mimicking old school metal of the 80s. It is even more aggressive and furious than DESTROYERS` previous (sic!) releases are. Yes, these songs are and sound powerful, yet “classically original”, so to say. Well, wine improves with age and so do some bands as well! This album is so full of energy, no kidding! 

 

Since there are very few bands who are able to make such a spectacular comeback, please allow me to present you with this album`s particular songs as well as let me tell you a bit about their lyrics. Yes, this album`s lyrical content has been criticized here and there but, in all fairness, I think this style of writing is a perfect match for the atmosphere created by the music. Well, anyways, there are too other metal music albums which deal with sex, violence and Devil himself, aren’t there? Aren’t these ingredients necessary to create the “right blend” which, when of proper dosage, will surely result in a good outcome? Well, this mixture, cooked in DESTROYERS` cauldron and combined with omnipotently sounding Heavy Metal has its truly refreshing effect; it all is pulsating with sheer energy and seems very cheerful as well. In present, grim times, such a dosage of cheerful humour is necessary for us to keep our chins up and that’s the right approach, isn’t it?  

 

Let’s leave the lyrics alone and focus on particular songs instead. First to emerge is a very energetic cut called Zemsta Roninów: thick, very powerful sound is pumping plenty of energy into listeners. Nice to listen to, you can easily sense these guys do like playing music. This is a huge dose of excellent heavy metal for all the ardent DESTROYERS` fans and you can tell these guys are feelin` young again, performing this track! Song number two, Jeszcze Gorsi is a true heavy metal anthem with awesome lyrics which, methinks, perfectly describe the current situation. This cut is undeniably my favourite one on this album. This is high caliber heavy metal, no doubt. Plenty of energy and I can only imagine how good this track will be when performed live. Noc Lubieżnych Ciał is the first song of many on this album which deals with eroticism; heavy, massive sound and fast tempos, yeah. Plenty of power metal energy too; as well as sparky solos, one of which reminds me of some MEGADETH`s doings…which is great, since it fits perfect. The lyrics contain a skillfully merged fragment of Pan Tadeusz`s XIII chapter by Aleksander Fredro. I am just curious what the author (Fredro) should say to that, because, in my opinion, this is a perfect combination. Czarna Śmierć is another hit song this album features, with a very powerful, very JUDAS`ish guitar sound and good lyrics, dealing (yet subtly) with present situation, though it does, in principle, describe the medieval pandemic. Marek Łoza `s vocals are doing a good job here. Wszetecznica: this song starts with an acoustic intro and soon becomes a furiously sounding heavy metal tale about a certain Roman patriciate’s daughter. Krwawa Hrabina – tells the story of Elizabeth Bathory, obsessed with blood lust. As we can see Marek Łoza draws inspirations from history as well as purported stories of “interesting” individuals who, thanks to his lyrics, come back to life for a short moment. All perfectly combined with heavy metal music. Bal is another track which deals with sex. The album ends with the title song - Dziewięć Kręgów Zła. I was sure this song was inspired by Dante Alighieri`s Divine Comedy however, the band mentioned Agni Parthene – by St. Nectarios. All’s good, this title is perfect for this omnipotently heavy metal album tinted with some power metal. Very impressive, really.  

 

It is indeed Jerzy Kurczak himself, who is responsible for the Dziewięć Kręgów Zła album cover art, a real homage paid to old times. Really nice. Wrapping up, well, I must say this album features no weak songs…this is a really jaw-dropping stuff. It doesn’t happen too often that I listen to a particular album from start to finish for a couple of days straight but I have in this particular case. Unless you already have it, you should get this album immediately and I can assure you that you`ll be pleased with it. Get it from their label www.putridcult.pl.

 

Another important thing is this album will be re-released in an English version on both CD and LP.

 

 

 

NecronosferatuS