The Polish band Pusta Noc (Empty Night) recently released their debut album, which they also immediately self-released as a CD. The person behind all of this is Grymuar, a figure about whom very little is known, shrouded in mystery like so many others. It’s sometimes hard to understand why some people aren’t proud to present their work and instead try to hide behind a wall of anonymity.
Pusta Noc focuses on the Polish legend of the nobleman Twardowski, which is indeed a fascinating theme for a concept album. Pan Twardowski is a sorcerer from Polish folklore and literature who made a pact with the Devil. Twardowski sold his soul in exchange for special powers – such as the ability to summon the spirit of the deceased wife of King Sigismund Augustus – and ultimately met a tragic fate.
Pusta Noc plays a kind of theatrical Black Metal with all the lyrics in Polish, which of course we don’t understand a word of, but that shouldn’t spoil the fun, especially since we’re also heavily into Norwegian Black Metal. So, let’s just pull out a dictionary and get to work.
After a short organ intro, it starts with Obejmij mnie, a mid-tempo Black Metal track where you immediately hear the very clean production. And it’s also clear that Mr. Grymuar didn’t learn how to play instruments through an online course. Nice riff progressions, guitar solos, and the vocal delivery is also quite solid.
What’s a bit strange is the opening riff of the next track, Pośród cierni katedrę mą wzniosę (I will build my cathedral among the thorns), as I’ve just heard this riff in the previous song. A mistake? I’m not sure, but I’ve gone back and forth a few times, and it’s definitely the same riff.
In Abracadabra, things suddenly get a bit more progressive metal, with complicated tempo changes and similar guitar riffs. It’s a bit of an oddball with a somewhat unconventional musical approach. It does make the album more varied and shows that Grymuar is versatile.
The following slower track, Jestem tylko machiną diabelską (I am just a devilish machine), is also very appealing, I must admit—slightly desolate guitars and wonderfully slow rhythms with a lot of atmosphere.
With the debut album, Pusta Noc convinces me more than the rawer EP from last year, which was already quite well received, but Grymuar shows more of his full potential on *Specula Magicas*, mainly due to the excellent production.
85/100