POGARDA – Czarne Obrazy

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/czarne-obrazy

Godz ov War Productions have an uncanny talent for unearthing some of the best and most musically interesting extreme metal bands hailing from the underground, and the Polish quintet known as Pogarda is a prime example of just that. This 5-track EP of theirs was released just a couple of days ago and offers a twisted and melancholy twist on black metal that results in an occasionally mesmerizing listening experience.

Following a rather beautiful yet bleak little intro that serves as a prelude to an expressive and funereal track otherwise known as “Lament,” Pogarda expertly guide us through a rugged terrain where despair, anguish, and pessimism loom large, and when I say rugged, it has to do with the inner turmoil and vitriol that all the compositions harbor and nurture so splendidly. There are plenty of shifts and things never stay in the same place for long, yet nothing feels rushed or without purpose. In many respects, this brooding bad boy is more akin to post-black metal in terms of tone, style, and mood. The coarse and anxiety-ridden vocals sit nicely on top of those meaty, brooding riffs while the robust rhythm section keeps everything nicely in place and adds a solid drive to the proceedings. Something about Czarne Obrazy sets it apart from much else there and that undoubtedly has comes down to its emotional intensity, stark vibe of misery, and the fact that it sounds fucking personal to these chaps, almost as if they have lived these songs.

Should you be in need of a little teaser then try checking the piece titled “Freski” out, which is outright brilliant. Listen closely to that section that kicks in at 1:47 and lose yourself in its world of perdition.