“Rok Spokojnego Słońca” (The Year of the Quiet Sun) is the fourth album from black metallers Jarun. But as I was to discover, this is far more than bog standard black metal.

The lingering strains of death hang in the air as the ball of impenetrable blackness rolls forward. But it’s not monochrome. Suggestively quieter passages, characterised by flamboyant but not overdone guitar solos are here. I even detected a whiff of Opeth in “W światło stycznia” (In the Light of January). On top of this there are plaintive and haunting vocals adding to the predominantly blackened landscape. “Jodły” (Firs) starts with a fast and hard metal melody, raising the blood levels nicely. Proper black n roll, I suppose you’d call it. But more important is that it’s a great song. Once again, the song diverges into a delightful rustic passage before the dark clouds form again and we return to the pulsating blackened world. “Jodły” is a nicely crafted song.”Widma” (Spectres) is the strangest song. Highly atmospheric, it is shadowy and sinister as its title suggests. The vocalist utters his cries and slogans from a distance as we get enveloped into a misty and murky scene. This scene transforms into one of irrepressible blackness and despair. An intriguing Eastern acoustic touch finds its way into the dark fury of “Bezimienna” (Nameless). This is the skill of this album: uncompromising, dark metal but enhanced by touches like the acoustic sections, the distant human cries of despair, and morbid atmospheres.
The wind sweeps hauntingly through “Bezimienna”. The drum patters through sinister sound waves. Much of the ambiance of this album is that of Dark Fortress, but with a harsh Polish take on it.

So, it is with the start of title track, whose ring is one of a murky and frightening world. “Rok Spokojnego Słońca” progresses like a hazy nightmare. We are woken by a man shouting in agony. The riff meanwhile has energy and we are swept along while being immersed in all this darkness and suffering. There is a pause for reflection. The music is lush but the human cries tell us there is no less suffering. The distant cries with the emotionless spoken word. The pain is manifest. “Rok Spokojnego Słońca” enters a further lush, progressive style passage but with a deep groan in the background the building atmosphere can be felt, and the song explodes in a controlled riot of blackened tension – brilliant. An acoustic beginning akin to April Ethereal’s “July Afternoon” starts “Pierwszy śnieg” (First Snow). Mysterious, deep and moody sounds run through the background, as the music switches from human suffering to a lonely and natural scene and so brings this feast of an album to a close.

Jarun is an experienced band of accomplished musicians. It shows here. “Rok Spokojnego Słońca” has six strong songs, each with their own character. Combining blackness and pain with sonic intrigue and beauty, Jarun are full of creative ideas and bring them together magically in this dark and sophisticated work.

(9/10 Andrew Doherty)

https://www.facebook.com/jarunband

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/rok-spokojnego-s-o-ca