This band’s previous album “Pora Umierać” (2018) was a riotous, livewire affair so I was hoping that this nominally black-punk band from Poland would give us more of the same.

The first thing to note about Truchło Strzygi is that they seek to avoid over-production, or at least try to make it as organic an experience as possible like a live performance. The hard punkish vibes of the opener “Strumień Świadomośc” (Stream of Consciousness) help it all along. The vocalist screams and is backed up by his mates. No time is wasted as the ghoulish and ghastly tones of “Ostatnie Tchnienie Nosferatu” (The Last Breath of Nosferatu) give way to a relentless, rapid fire punkish romp. It’s a riot but I’m missing something here as it’s as if Truchło Strzygi are having their own private riot. There’s a lot of frantic shouting and punkish atmosphere but even the howling like wolves isn’t drawing me in. I’m not sure that even if I understood the lyrics, which are in Polish, it would make any difference. The energy and sense of anarchy are fine, as are the raw sound but I confess that this was leaving me cold. “Krew Strzygi” (Striga’s Blood) allows us the opportunity to join in the chorus but this doesn’t really take me over. A moody start to “Zagłada” (Destruction) gives way to a heavy riff-driven section which in turn notches up and gallops through its ferocious course, accompanied by manic howling. “A.C.O.C” has a more modern black metal feel about it in its dark riff. Manic cries, a boozy-sounding chorus and the customary high-charged assault make up this track. Strangely there is short guitar piece “Tonąc we łzach” (Drowning in Tears). This is followed by the mystifying “Planeta Astrio” (Planet Astrio) Made up of irregular punkish cuts, it features a dark cosmic piece which may belong to the title of the song but not as far I can make out to the rest of the album.

Although this is in your face, subtlety isn’t a word you would really associate with Truchło Strzygi, but it needed them. The mix is like a blunt instrument. This album lacks the little touches that made “Pora Umierać” leap out at me. Those that were there didn’t seem to add anything. I can’t comment on the aim of this album, and maybe that’s a linguistic barrier, but whilst I can see that Truchło Strzygi might be a good live band, whatever ideas there were didn’t seem coherent and certainly stand out on this recorded album, which was all a bit of a mish-mash.

(5/10 Andrew Doherty)

https://www.facebook.com/plonie.horyzont

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/gwiezdny-demon