Lower Silesian Stronghold

Tolkien freaks will recognize the name ‘ohtar’ as being an esquire of King Isildur, who brought the broken pieces of the king’s legendary sword to the elfish city of Rivendell after some cowardly attack. But it is the name as well from a Polish band which was formed more than two decades ago. Ohtar, the band, recorded some demos and split contributions during the late Nineties and the early 2000’s, and in 2003, Supreme Art released the impressive debut full length album When I Cut The Throat (re-released afterwards on vinyl and tape).

One of the many things I like on Polish label Lower Silesian Stronghold is their quest for new ‘talent’. On their roster, they house quite some artists / projects / bands that are sort of eternally related to each-other. This loyalty is remarkable and must be hailed. Yet then again, Lower Silesian Stronghold do not mind giving opportunities to completely new acts either. And what’s more, artificial boundaries are neglectable.

Muruth was formed in 2008 by a guy from Slovakia, known as von Ulfhednir. That very same year, a short demonstrational recording was released digitally (with assistance of a session singer), but then things turned into silence.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…

Nachtfrost is the name for a young project from Macedonia (the Greek part, not the FYROM! Krieg!), started by Lord Konrad aka Orthanc. There were some demonstrational recordings, which Orthanc created and performed himself, occasionally helped out by some guest musicians. The very same goes for the first full length album, Spectral Domains Of Dusk, which he wrote in 2016 and 2017, and which he recorded in between Summer 2017 and Winter 2018.

I used to be a ‘fan’ of Sol Invictus, but then I am talking about the project by Death In June’s Tony Wakeford (and apparently they reformed once more – but that is another thing). Another band with this moniker will be my next Sol Invictus adoration.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust… Hail to purification, death to the inferior spawn of terrorist prophets!

It took some time, it has been too long, way too long, but finally, after more than two years, LycanthropY return with a new epos, called A.V.R.E.I.L. A.V.R.E.I.L. stands for ‘anno volcanii, rex efferorum, imperium lucis’, and means something like ‘year of the volcano, king of savages, empire of the light’.

During the first half of the nineties, I did know a Polish band with the name Pagan Temple. I had not heard of them anymore since then, and investigation turned out to define their dissolution in 1996 after just over three years of existence. Anyway, when my dearest brother-in-pure-law K. did send me the album The Warriors Of Black Circles by a Polish band called Pagan Temple, I couldn’t imagine that it would deal with the very same band.

He might not be that well-known, at least outside his home country, but young Polish (now located in the UK?) multi-instrumentalist Kolan performs under several monikers. He’s the guy behind projects such as Antisemitex, Defenders Of Europe, Severe Storm or Bustum (solo or as instrumentalist), and quite recently he also started an outfit under the name Odour Of Death.