CZARNA JUCHA - ZLY DUCH
CZARNA JUCHA - ZLY DUCH
Country: Poland
Year: 2025
Label: Independent
Something’s definitely happening in Poland, because almost everything I’ve heard in recent years across most metal genres has been outstanding and Poland seems to be taking the lead. So many high-quality releases and truly amazing bands. Without a doubt, it’s one of the strongest metal scenes in the world right now! Czarna Jucha (“Black Blood” in English) belong to this very scene. The mastermind behind the project is Grzegorz Puszkarek, a multi-talented musician with plenty of experience in various bands. On this debut album, titled ''Zły Duch'' (Evil Spirit), he performs all instruments himself (with drums handled by Wizun). The album was released about two months ago, in late September. The record features six lengthy compositions rooted in pure black metal, with that icy, mysterious atmosphere that defines the genre. However, it’s far from one-dimensional, each song offers much more than the traditional Norwegian black metal sound. You’ll hear riffs that are pure, classic heavy metal (especially the guitar solos, the tone is simply incredible and oozes old-school heavy metal spirit), plenty of melody in various sections, and, of course, a strong atmospheric presence throughout. The compositions are complex, constantly feeding the listener’s ear with new details and emotions. Music always makes us feel, sadness, joy, love, hate, strength, anger and ''Zły Duch'' does exactly that. With every listen, I experienced something different, and that’s what makes me so happy: for me, music is emotion. As mentioned above, the backbone of these songs is black metal, furious drumming packed with blast beats, guitars that tear through like wild, raging winds, and vocals that sound ferocious, demonic, and full of depth. Be sure to check out killer tracks like “Arcywróg,” which features an absolutely stunning guitar solo and an incredible atmosphere, the title track “Zły Duch,” with its unbelievably badass riffs and “Legenda” what an epic song! Prepare for serious ear damage with “Legenda”! And of course, “Bezgwiezdna martwa noc” (perhaps my favorite track, along with ''Legenda''). It’s a fantastic piece, powerful, atmospheric, and infernal where MaxGregor absolutely rocks during the guitar solo! The cover art also deserves a mention, it’s stunning, created (along with the band’s logo) by artist Robert A. von Ritter, who has illustrated many remarkable album covers. The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Marcin Rybicki between fall/winter 2024–25, with drums recorded by Krzysztof Godycki at Studio Roslyn in November 2024. ''Zły Duch'' is available on CD and is, in my opinion, a highly promising release that will surely satisfy many fans of extreme metal out there. Honestly, I can’t help but wonder, when I hear such great independently produced albums, are record labels completely deaf these days?
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
CZARNA JUCHA CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Czarna-Jucha/61579772906588/
https://www.instagram.com/czarnajucha
https://czarnajucha.bandcamp.com/album/z-y-duch
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3bGF5UTxhL5ArjYIUFucN2