heavy-metal-darkness: Narrenwind | Gorzkie Plony

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Narrenwind | Gorzkie Plony | Pagan Records

Release Date: September 2025

Format: CD, LP, Digital

Genre: Black Metal / Blackened Heavy Metal

Country: Poland

Narrenwind has been around for more than a decade, building their name on a sound that bridges the rawness of black metal with the epic weight of heavy metal riffing. Formed by Ævil (guitar, bass) and Klimørh (vocals), the duo has carved out a niche in the Polish underground featuring albums that combine ferocity and atmosphere. After releasing their last two records through Ævil’s Wheelwright Productions, they now return to Pagan Records, the label that supported their early days. “Gorzkie Plony” is their fifth full-length, featuring session drums from Anti-Christian (known from Tsjuder and Beaten To Death), mixed and mastered by Haldor Grunberg at Satanic Audio, and wrapped in the artwork of JRMR.

The eight tracks on “Gorzkie Plony” run just over half an hour, keeping the writing sharp and to the point. The band’s blend of styles is immediately clear: buzzing black metal tremolos and icy atmosphere sit side by side with heavy metal gallops and anthemic, almost bard-like vocal passages. The Polish lyrics add depth and an old-world aura, especially as some of them borrow directly from national poets like Baczyński and Miciński, as well as a cover of Maanam through Olga “Kora” Sipowicz’s words. This literary grounding gives the album a layer of cultural gravity that feels naturally tied to the music’s dramatic tone.

The production strikes a balance between rawness and clarity. Instruments remain distinct, with the guitar riffs driving the songs forward and Anti-Christian’s drumming pushing them with restless energy. Klimørh’s vocal performance, grim and theatrical, ties everything together, moving from harsh growls to expressive chants. The closing track “I-II-I-II” is the shortest and most unusual cut here, leaving a strange, almost ritualistic aftertaste that works as a final punctuation mark to the album.

“Gorzkie Plony” is not an overly long listen, but it carries a sense of purpose and cohesion. The mix of blackened aggression, heavy metal roots and Polish poetic influence makes it stand out in a crowded field. Narrenwind continues to occupy their own corner of the scene, and this album confirms that their craft is still sharp and full of fire. This album, with its balance of harshness, tradition and cultural reference, will speak to fans of black metal and to listeners who appreciate when metal reaches beyond music into history and literature. It’s a release that feels bound to its place of origin, which makes it all the more compelling.

Score: 7.0