Review by SzejkElRopa on October 14, 2026.

The cover of Profeci's newest album, "Troska", depicts something not often seen in the metal scene, let alone in black metal. According to the all-knowing Metal Archives, however, that's the genre Profeci plays. We can see some flowers attached to the tree, a crucifix, and an image of Black Madonna, which holds great value to Polish Catholics. On a side note, the monastery in Częstochowa, where this icon is placed, is beautiful, regardless of religious beliefs. So, after all, a conclusion can be made that "Troska" won't be the most misanthropic, hateful output one will hear. And this time, the artwork suggests what to expect and what not to expect.

At the music's core, obviously, lies black metal, since the guitars excel at alarming-sounding tremolo-picked riffs that craft the atmosphere. While not bursting with hatred, it focuses more on introspection and anxiety, with a hint of hope somewhere at the end. The dominant role is taken by the vocalist, whose performance is multifaceted; one could even say theatrical. At times, he furiously shouts, as though he were releasing agony from the depths of his soul, and at other times he can be heard singing cleanly, for instance at the end of "Niepokoje", which is a surprising turn in the nature of the album. "Opiekun", which also happens to feature clean singing, is definitely a highlight of the album because its melancholic ending section easily sticks in one's memory. Profeci also shines when it comes to the songwriting - every piece of music is easily distinguishable from the others, and the whole album has, as I said, many surprising twists and turns which might take one aback. Simultaneously, all the pieces feel connected, and none of them feels out of place. Moreover, the album features several acoustic guitar interludes, which add to the overall melancholic and introspective substance of the music, for example, close to the end of "Niepokoje". Frantic, faster moments, where prominent drumwork can be heard, can be found in songs such as "Kształt Sugeruje Człowieka" and balance the softness of the aforementioned acoustic guitar parts.

"Nic Poza Nimi" and "Potem Znowu Jest Góra" happen to be those tracks where the leading role is taken by the guitars, making the atmosphere quite dense and evoking the feelings of anxiety and even a bit of nostalgia with their melodic guitar lines. The former song, lasting only three minutes, especially exposes the feeling of distress with exuberant vocals and guitar lines. Speaking of the vocals, as I said before, the vocals could be described as theatrical, because of the common use of melodic recitation, cleaner vocals, as well as more black metal-fitting shout-meets-growl outbursts. What suited me was the fact that every word was easily understandable, which happens quite rarely when it comes to the music I usually listen to. Unfortunately for some, the lyrics are fully in Polish. The guitars mostly drive the album with tremolo-picked melodies, varying in character, although not feeling out of tune. Even the bass guitar is audible, highlighting the quality of the mix.

While personally I am a fan of more hateful and misanthropic music, I cannot hide the impression "Troska" left on me. I didn't have high hopes for the album, and despite the fact that it's probably not necessarily the type of music I find myself best in, it still managed to capture my attention enough to make me perplexed throughout the 35 minutes of the music. Therefore, I give it 8.3/10, because although I thought my preference for a certain type of music is strong, this album made me more open-minded. Recommended for those who aren't scared of occasional clean vocals or music that doesn't involve blasphemy, destruction, and all evil incarnate.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10