Poland is a literal hotbed of Death/ Black and Folk Metal. Their most notable outputs are Behemoth and Vader (among others), but you can add Varmia to the mix of solid extreme music bands from the region. I last spoke about them with high praises for their EP Prolog (2023) and Nie nas widzę (also from 2023), and let me assure you, constant reader, Lauks is another triumphant notch in their belt.

Massive production is the name of the game like never before. This album is coming to kill your family and your irritating neighbors in a blistering mushroom cloud. Lauks leans into epic territory on the first track, “Czarne drogi Xsiężyca”, delivering some haunting synths before the blasts storm in, ripping at your ears and causing serious internal bleeding. It’s less of a bouncing Folk Metal track and more balls-to-the-wall blackened death metal.

There’s some mind-blowing musical acrobatics contained within Lauks. “Zwykli zmarli” echoes more Behemoth-style bludgeoning, while “Niekrwi” seethes with ancient malevolence. The top-notch production ensures that you will be deaf after your first listen, no matter though because you’ll still be able to feel the bass rumbling in your chest.

So yeah, there’s a different spirit on Lauks. It’s very violent, and while all their albums have an unequivocal feeling of foreboding menace, this one is HEAVY as fuck. You thought I was going to say it wasn’t good, didn’t you? On the contrary, this album might be my favorite from these Polish Metal monsters.

“Stēisan azzaran waks” reaches the dizzying heavens and crashes into the bowels of Hell. Simultaneously. There’s a foggy mist permeating “Dzień, pół nocy” and personal favorite “Der Tot Adalbert”, it being a knuckle-dragging colossal abomination in musical form.

“Korona” and “…po widok za” round out the last gasp of Lauks, and it’s already time to hit play again. This is a crushing album; it’s not a walk through the tulips. It’s thorny, and it might hurt you if you let your guard down. For the hordes that love Behemoth, Kawir and Vader. Get it now!

[Visit the band's website]

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