ZYWIOLAK

Highly recommended! This extremely original group from Poland, plays specific complex music based on deconstructed themes from Polish and Ukrainian ethnic music. It is not simple prog-folk-rock but rather Avant-Ethnic-Progressive rock. Music is eclectic, and difficult to classify. It seems not to be easy-to-listen by ordinary folk-fan, but is also intriguing and attractive. There are a lot of strange sounds, trance rhythms, archaic home-made instruments and lyrics (in Polish and Ukrainian) deeply submerged in sex and slavic mythology (witches and demons) completed with metal guitar sound, partially agressive and partially smooth female vocals, and even something like socio-political, poetic rap ("Zywiolak"). Group members propose the humorous term "polska muzyka neo-ludowa"("Polish neo-folk music") as a good denomination of their music. In my opinion, weaker point is vocal-style, which sometimes impedes the understanding sophisticated lyrics - of course it is a problem only for Polish-speakers. It is easy to recognize by perceptive listener the musical kinship with other, highly recommended polish ethno-progressive band "Kapela ze wsi Warszawa" - song "Femina" is just an rearranged version of the song known from one of its album with different lyrics. Four stars.

I have to admit to not knowing much of anything about this band, except to note that they clearly qualify as a neofolk group with pagan leanings and lots of drone in their music (hurdy-gurdy of course, that magical drone-in-a-box instrument for any group that wants to add a heavy, brooding whine to their music). The fact they come from Poland is a bit surprising, at least it is to me considering most of the darker neofolk bands I know of either come from Germany, northern UK areas of some parts of the eastern U.S.

This is their debut EP, more of a promo record really with only four songs that are all quite similar. The basic recipe is plenty of hurdy-gurdy out front, a persistent and usually syncopated metallic drumbeat, synthesized background industrial sounds and flat, almost monotonous female vocals. At first blush the sound is kind of interesting, not because there’s anything new or original in the individuals parts, but because they are packaged in a way that grabs your attention the first time you hear them. I have to admit I was somewhat enchanted the first time I played the opening “Dybuk”.

But after a few songs nearly identical the novelty begins to wear, and by the time the last track “Femina” plays out I’ve already begun to tire of it. The band has since released a full- length studio album which I have but haven’t played in its entirety yet. I know there are some slower, more ambient numbers (relatively-speaking) on that record. Perhaps I’ll find the band has more to offer when I get around to spending some time with the 2008 release ‘Nowa ex-tradycja’, but as far as this EP goes I have to say it doesn’t rate much higher than two stars. That isn’t necessarily a reflection on the band though, so don’t be dissuaded from exploring their later work. Don’t spend too much time looking for this one though; I’d recommend checking them out on mySpace and youTube before investing in any records though, just to make sure their sound is something you’re interested in.

peace

4.5 stars really. This album can best be described as pagan folk metal, though it doesn't sound much like anything I've ever heard- the closest I could come was Magma, because of the chanting and- to American ears- a strange language. All of the elements of Zywiolak's sound combine very nicely together- thundering tribal drums, metal-sounding guitars, and generous amounts of Polish folk music and violin. However, what truly makes this is the vocals- the excellently done female vocals, combined with growling, aggressive male vocals, lifts the mind into a different state, like being at a pagan ritual. In general, this is a superb album, recommended to fans of folk metal and pagan music.