Ελληνικά
Genre: Pagan Black Metal
Country: Poland
Label: Pagan Records
Year: 2015
The only full album of the Polish Sacrilegium came out in April 1996, after a split and a demo. It’s natural for you to be unaware of this band, since they stayed in the shadows during their active years, with very few people knowing their existence. The fact that this record was written in Polish offered them popularity within the borders of the country and it is considered an important act, given that big bands like Drudkh have covered their tracks.
There is a rumor saying that Sacrilegium were in touch with Darkthrone during the nineties for a mini tour of shows, which for some reasons was called off. Had it happened, Wicher would have been heard more. Of course, this release, forgotten and in exile as it is, touches the sensitive strings of black metal wanderers of today. Notalbe is the fact that the release was back then under the aegis of Pagan Records, a label that counts many diamonds in it’s roster like Blaze of Perdition, Furia, Massemord as well as releasing and promoting the early Behemoth records. The same label decided to put this re-issue forward too.
Their music is an amalgamation of the Scandinavian scene’s good elements. The presence of keys is important in every song, giving the necessary atmosphere without going near symphonic black metal. The vocalist gives unearthly screams,
somewhere between Darkthrone and Satanic Warmaster, sparsely using his clean voice, exactly as he should. The strong influence from the northern scene lives in the melodies of the tracks as well, the riffs remind a little bit of early Dimmu Borgir and Darkthrone. Nevertheless, Sacrilegium have smartly taken advantage of their influences and they have not been consumed by them, something that gives them their own sound and not a Norwegian clone’s one.
In the original recording of 1996, in my opinion, the compositional effort of the band is not favored by the production. The bass was nonexistent and the drums had lousy sound, characteristics that were completely fixed by the current remaster. The tracks sound more thick and full, the power of the guitar lines is more easily appreciated, which constantly unleashes truly grandiose riffs. The vocals have also been improved and the drums are satisfactory, while the sound in general is stronger and more well-made.
For sure, the track that stands out is the twelve minute “Wicher Falami Ognia”, not because it’s the longest in duration but mainly because it shows other aspects of the band. Starting with a simple but atmospheric clean guitar melody, it is accompanied by pompous clean vocals announcing something, which sadly only people who know the language will understand. There are awesome synths there, but still I think someone has to be Polish to fully appreciate it, as the whole record.
I believe Wicher came across bad luck when it was first released as it easily stands among the best albums of it’s time. It’s reincarnation should give newer listeners and not only a second chance that must not be wasted. “Wicher” is an absolute must for lovers of the second wave, no second questions asked. The band is also working on new material as we speak, so look out of a new album!
5/6
