Review by Alex on February 16, 2019.

Though never being fond of punk influences used alongside black metal; the way Truchło Strzygi executed this approach put a smile on my face. Having released a full length in 2018 titled Pora umierać which translates to Its Time to Die, garnered a fair bit of attention and critical acclaim; however, I felt they were better than that, thus I was looking forward to what else the band had hidden behind their blackened veil. Today we see them crash the black metal and punk junction with 3 new songs in the form of an EP titled Nad którymi nie czuwa żaden stróż or No Watchman Watches Over. Continuing with their post-apocalyptic and pessimistic themes, Truchło Strzygi does not disappoint as such was the case on their 2018 full-length debut; in fact the material on Nad którymi nie czuwa żaden stróż is better than that offered in the past. Though only spanning just over 12 minutes, this EP embodies what Truchło Strzygi is trying to achieve.

What’s noticeable from the get-go is the lift in production value this has received to create a more apocalyptic manifestation, as it would be fitting for such a band and more-so the music. Also what stands-out on Nad którymi nie czuwa żaden stróż is the thrashing drum attack that is played alongside the tremolo picking thus giving the listener a satisfying blend of both genres which had been done before on their debut full-length but not to this degree of perfection. “Jasna pustka” is the best reference as it executes this effect diligently. The transitions are catchy and propel the motion of the record when diverting from and mixing the genres. The vocals still have a deep rooted punk metal edge and the guitar riffs land devastating blows in the leads. As mentioned earlier, the production is different on this outing; its thick/beefy and gives the black metal a heavier fist. With this kind of mastering, when the high and low-tempo ranged tremolo picking enter, they paint the landscapes vibrantly. 

Nad którymi nie czuwa żaden stróż feels like one long song that gains intensity as it approaches the end. And rightfully so, especially when taking into consideration the lyrics accompanying the music. Each line is spoken (or in this case yelled out) with passion to convey the seriousness of the subjects at hand. The lyrics on Nad którymi nie czuwa żaden stróż provoke deep thoughts as they frustratingly question the purpose of life. The nihilistic nature of the text will indeed challenge the philosophy of any listener that reads them. Multiple interpretations may be derived from scanning the twisted nature of the record’s content; however, it is deeply rooted in fact, a fact that can be seen in today’s society.

I encourage Truchło Strzygi to keep this sort of production and continue to expand on these themes. For having already established a sound of their own, should the band venture on, they will become a unit that many will take notes from attentively. The talent is there so is the drive. 

Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Review by Arek on November 11, 2020.

After several years of playing together and a few local concerts, four maniacs of strong sounds, fun and high-proof drinks followed with some herring decided to embody the repertoire created and played here and there. They embodied it on August 4th this year. The album features 11 pieces of lively grind core tinged with many influences and a large dose of humor.

Speaking of Śledzie Zagłady and grind core, it is as if we wanted to put Napalm Death's work into the same drawer. It is true that Śledzie achievements do not venture into industrial regions, but it's the early grind core activity of the Englishmen that is extremely close to them. It was reflected in the cover of ‘Unchallenged Hate’ from Napalms' second album. However, I must explain right away that this is the only track that maintains the grind core structure as a whole. All the other tracks are quite free play with musical styles from punk rock to black metal with a grind character. In terms of sound, I would place them in Scandinavia between the late Nasum and Rotten Sound.

In Śledzie's work, the lyrics that perfectly fit into this lively music are no less important. Here, however, it is worth adding a warning that playing Śledzie Zagłady's music in front of minors may result in too fast of a linguistic education in the backyard Latin regions. Unfortunately, or maybe for the better the book does not contain lyrics of individual songs, although it would be worth reading them to learn the stories of Onan, Rudy or King Edzio. The very title of Śledzie W Kosmosie indicates that this position should be approached with a grain of salt, preferably twice applied. It will be perfect for events strengthened with the high proof liquids and such. From my own experience, I can add that it is difficult to sit still at their concerts. After just a few sounds the leg taps, the head nods, and then it turns out that you are already jumping in front of the stage.

Ending my arguments, I would like to encourage all metalheads, who do not mind aggressive sounds while dancing, to reach for the debut of Śledzie Zagłady. This somewhat budget digipak, decorated with a cover by Marcin "Kryszpin", can turn out to be quite a useful gadget for both music and general entertainment.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10