WARBELL – RUIN

RELEASE YEAR: 2024

BAND URL: https://warbell.bandcamp.com/

The Polish Lower Silesian melodic death metal ensemble Warbell was founded by Paweł “Bloody” Szczypka (bass, vocals), Kamil Ziobro (drums-2008), Patryk Kryński (drums-2013), Marcin “Maroon” Witeska (guitars-2016) and Piotr “Peter” Hasioli (guitars-2019) in 2008 breaking up 2 years later for 3 years without a single recording. Reactivated, the melodeath act debuted with a very good Battle Of Unnumbered Tears²⁰¹³ demo (with the fantastic opener “My Sin” and even a song in the native Polish “Sługa Śmierci” <Servant Of Death>), which was a prelude to the following two full lengths, the good Havoc²⁰¹⁵ (on Goressimo Records), (with the highlight the highly memorable “Break The Waves”) and the very good independently released Plague²⁰¹⁹ (all three releases available for listening and purchase on their bandcamp page) (with catchy tracks such the excellent “Dualmind”, “Every Storm” and especially “The Fallen”) with Szczypka the only remaining founder remaining for this, here Ruin²⁰²⁴ EP, independently released on April 1st, 2024, supported by Karolina “Gigi” Więcek (2013-vocals)
Kamil Turczynowicz (2019-guitars), Bartosz Dolewski (2020-drums), which has been a different band vocally, enjoying Więcek’s growls akin to ex-Arch Enemy’s Angela Gossow.

Taken as a whole, Ruin²⁰²⁴ marks a genuine turning point for Warbell. Where their early output felt like capable homage (think classic In Flames), this EP sounds like the work of a band who has come into its own. With its balance of immediacy and ambition, heaviness and melody, tradition and innovation, it positions Warbell not just as promising players in the Polish scene, but as serious contributors to the global melodic death metal conversation.

Stylistically, Warbell’s palette is refreshingly broad. On one end, they channel the melodic finesse of Arch Enemy, Omnium Gatherum, Scar Symmetry, In Mourning, early Soilwork, and Be’lakor. On the other, they flirt with the heavier shadows of Asphyx, Carcass, Novembers Doom, and Obituary. Layered into this foundation are unexpected swerves: a stoner/groove sensibility à la High On Fire or Corrosion of Conformity, and even shades of the more metalcore-infused branch of melodeath in the spirit of Darkest Hour, Living Sacrifice, or Trivium. The result is a sound that feels alive, restless, and strikingly their own.

Production-wise, Ruin²⁰²⁴ is polished without being sterile—crisp and heavy, giving space for every nuance of the band’s arrangements. Musicianship is flawless across the board, and while creativity and songwriting lean more toward “very good” than “masterful,” the record still bursts with moments of brilliance. It’s clear that Warbell are operating at the peak of their technical confidence, and their willingness to experiment has elevated them from imitators to innovators.

Among the five tracks, only “Fight Back” falls short of greatness—solid but less memorable compared to the others. The rest range from strong to downright excellent, with “Melancholical” standing tall as the EP’s crown jewel. Beginning with a Scar Symmetry-esque groove, it soon opens into an unexpectedly melodic, doom-tinged chorus sung cleanly, both haunting and heartfelt. The track’s solos are breathtaking, approaching Chuck Schuldiner-like mastery in phrasing and emotion, while the layered melodies give way to an even more luminous chorus in the vein of In Mourning. It’s progressive, adventurous, and deeply moving—a career highlight for the band.

On the opposite side of the spectrum sits “Parasite,” a short, sharp, thrashier cut built on an irresistible riff. Its immediacy contrasts beautifully with the expansive “Melancholical.” The song barrels forward with sexy riff progressions reminiscent of Carcass and early Soilwork, while background cleans add a spectral touch that evokes Madder Mortem’s Agnete Kirkevaag. It’s a track designed to ignite mosh pits but still showcases the band’s knack for intelligent composition.

For years, Warbell carried the reputation of being my native Poland’s answer to In Flames, their early work drawing heavily on the classic Gothenburg formula. But with Ruin²⁰²⁴ EP, the Lower Silesian outfit has finally carved out a distinct identity, one that feels both more daring and more assured. What emerges is a strikingly original melodic death metal record that confidently breaks free from derivative trappings without abandoning the genre’s roots. Czekamy na trzeci longplay, Warbell!