Kongh, O.D.R.A. and Guantanamo Party Program LIVE in Wrocław
In April, there are so many sludge gigs taking place in Wrocław, Poland that my friends and I began referring to it as "The Month of Emotional Ruin [O.D.R.A. reference] and Annihilation of the Human Being." On the 13th of April I was at the Kongh concert at Firlej Club in Wroclaw. The Swedes were supported by Polish bands O.D.R.A and Guantanamo Party Program, both being local bands.
O.D.R.A
O.D.R.A mixes the sludge core themes such as heavy, slow and low-tuned riffs along with even lower and heavier bass lines, punkish vocals and as they say themselves ‘lyrics in polish about the dark secrets of Silesia’.
Everyone playing sludge has to be aware that they might be compared to Eyehategod and I’ve heard many times people calling O.D.R.A the ‘polish EHG’. Though the influences are very obvious, Silesian rebels are not copycats and calling them the polish copy of NOLA’s legend would be mischievous. They incorporate their own ideas such as very local and cliquish references to Wroclaw or some sarcastic comments about living in this part of Poland.
Check out the 5th track from the second release, o.d.r.a II called ‘Dinks’ (even being Polish does not mean you’re going to understand the samples from an actual conversation the guys had!)
O.D.R.A. is intentionally inadvertent, dirty, uneven, ‘smelling like piss straight from one of the Wroclaw’s dooryards’ blues, yet full of distanced humor which can be noticed in songs like ‘Sitwa Blues’. Guys are just having fun with what they’re doing and the audience needs to appreciate the band with a relaxed attitude, free of ‘genre crazed’ judgmental approach. One of my favorite Polish bands, with my favorite tracks: ‘Analny Amulet’, ‘Sitwa Blues’
So far O.D.R.A has released three albums:
o.d.r.a in July 2009
o.d.r.a II in December 2011
Karl Denke Blues in December 2012
All are available on Bandcamp and in physical copies straight from the band’s Facebook account:
Karl Denke Blües by o.d.r.a
Guantanamo Party Program
Guantanamo Party Program was the second supporting act on that night. It’s really hard to classify the band into one or two genres, the best way is to just check them out by yourself and come up with a solution if you guys care that much about genres. I don’t. GPP tagged themselves on Bandcamp as: experimental apocalyptic hard core/ modern sludge/ post hardcore/ screamo. Well…
Being set up at the turn of 2006 and 2007 GPP is claimed to develop from screamo/noise to more ‘atmospheric mix of sludge and post hardcore.’ Their style is not easily distinguishable yet there is something about them that draws attention. Maybe heavy, catchy riffs like in ‘Stare Fotografie’ (Old Photographs) from the ‘II’ release, or samples with worrisome messages like in ‘Ja’ (I), the opening song from their first release from 2010, or perhaps heavy, gloomy and depressed guitar themes like in ‘Noc Umierających Gwiazd’ (The Night of the Dying Stars). I believe all at once is an integral entirety which one shouldn't be dividing into analyzable parts.
What’s worth mentioning is also how beautiful is their ‘II’ released also on LP. You clearly see that the guys care about details like covers, arts etc. I personally love the cover picture. It says all about the atmosphere of the music, the message of the lyrics, full of grief and sorrow. My favorite tracks: ‘Ja’, ‘Sześć Stop pod Ziemią’ (Six Feet Under) due to that ‘makes me wanna cut myself’ opening riff.
So far Guantanamo Party Program has released:
‘I’ in March 2010
A split with Echoes of Yul/Sun for Miles from the same year
Another split, this one from December 2012 with We are Idols
The newest release: ‘II’ from May 2013.
All are available on their Bandcamp, but if you crave for a physical copy, ask here.
II by Guantanamo Party Program
Kongh
Kongh has already established its respect and popularity among sludge/doom/post metal fans, especially because of their Sole Creation album. It’s acclaimed as varied in terms of composition, combining massive heavy riffs (just like that hairy monster on the cover of the album) with almost black metal ones (‘The Portal’) and the clean/growling vocals of David Johansson.
Yet the chorus in the ‘Sole Creation,’ the opening song, brings in some more doomish, clean sounds which makes the vibe more varied. If you like Ramesses, my personally beloved Dark Castle, or Conan, there is a great chance you’ll dig this too.
The heavy yet melodic vocals, which at times resemble Yob’s Mike Scheidt, are the central part of a live performance, along with the slow and massive bass line by Olle Hedenström. Tomas Salonen is responsible for the heaviness and breadth of the songs, with his complicated and varied drum passages. It’s very pleasurable to watch those guys on stage—one can literally sink in the depths of Kongh’s riffs and resounding vocals.
I don’t think I have favorite tracks by Kongh. I’d rather treat their releases as circa 40-minute performances.
So far Kongh released:
A demo record in 2006,
A split with Ocean Chief in March 2008,
‘Counting Heartbeats’ July 2007
‘Shadows of the Shapeless’ in May 2009
‘Sole Creation’ in February 2013.
You can find all albums on Kongh’s official site.
Sole Creation by Kongh
Cherry Darling is our contributor in Poland. She hosts the weekly "For The Sick" program on Doomed & Stoned's Facebook page.