Review by SzejkElRopa on June 14, 2026.

Piołun is a plant that, if misused, can severely damage one's health. Also, apart from this enormously useful botanical information, piołun (or, in English, wormwood) is a symbol of bitterness, which appears a few times in the Bible. Moreover, it is a band that I had on my radar for quite a long time. However, I was putting off listening to this duo for so long that they released a new album, called "Exolvuntur". Seeing that they are signed to Malignant Voices, which never disappoints, made me incredibly curious what they have to offer.

Apocalyptic is probably the best word to describe these compositions. They are mostly led by tremolo-picked melodies, which create a trance-like feeling. On the other hand, there is a handful of brutality offered here, especially taking into account some moments when heavier riffs are accompanied by fast-paced drumming. For instance, let's take a look at the opener - 'Manifest kresu'. It starts with brutal blastbeats played alongside a melody. Then, when vocals emerge, a heavier riff can be heard, which showcases the vehement side of the song. Around the 1:50-minute mark, the song becomes more melodic. Another notable moment appears around the third minute of the song, when the hypnotic melody overtakes the song, accompanied by harsh vocals. And that's generally the case throughout the album - mesmerizing melodies take turns with more brutal, heavier riff-driven moments. After such a description, one might think that the album is boring, but it's quite the contrary. It evokes feelings of melancholy and resignation, with a hint of rebellion in it. It's quite contemplative, with the "calmer" side slightly taking over the album. A good example is 'Czas', which perfectly strikes the balance between aggressiveness and atmosphere. Especially well-crafted is the riff, which can be heard while the chorus plays. The vocalist makes the best performance here because he sounds genuinely desperate and hopeless. A similar thing goes for 'Moribunda', where he screams "Ars...! Moriendi!", if I'm not mistaken. Moreover, the songwriting deserves praise because the song is remarkable without repeating a riff over and over (although some repetitiveness is included). Also, a noteworthy moment happens in the chorus of 'Hiems', because it reaches the album's emotional peak, with a confident riff standing out in this very moment.

The vocals are pretty standard for this genre; however, they convey the emotions as they should - they aren't very directly in-your-face, yet aren't hidden beneath other instruments. For Polish speakers, the lyrics are mostly understandable, which is another good point of the album. The guitars, as stated, play riffs which are one of the key factors behind the album's atmosphere. For instance, the opening of 'Próba Sznura' is quite eerie, saddening, and nihilistic at the same time. Although there's a multitude of emotions, Piołun somehow manages to evoke many of them at the same time. Later in that song, a melancholic lead guitar shines over other instruments. The drums' sound doesn't overwhelm the album, and is overall quite interesting with a variety of cymbals. There is one problem with this album, however, and it's the fact that songs tend to be too similar to each other, and Piołun is clearly heard repeating some of the techniques they used before. It is usually the hypnotic lead guitar accompanied by a barking vocalist, with little change in the sound of the riff. Despite this, the album remains engaging, and this flaw never overshadows its strengths.

"Exolvuntur" can be treated as something between a manifesto of a resigned nihilist and a contemplation on life and death, with the leading theme of nature, giving the listener a sonically introspective, melancholic journey into themselves as well as into the ruthless outside world. With its great hypnotic riffs and a good balance, however, not without some drawbacks, I give this album 8.4/10. It is not perfect; nevertheless, it keeps up my thesis that Malignant Voices regularly delivers good material. And lastly, give this album time, because after the first listen, I couldn't remember anything about it. It gets better after that.

Rating: 8.4 out of 10