ZMARŁYM are a Polish Black Metal band and “Wielkie Zanikanie” is their second full length on Godz Ov War Productions. When I looked around for the information on the band, a lot of the fans mentioned their experimental nature which intrigued me. Apparently, their first album had a massive electronic influence, which was immediately a hit with a few fans and some fans dismissed them just as quickly. “Wielkie Zanikanie” seems pretty forward in nature, atmospheric, relentless and unforgiving. Otherwise, the album seems to be a standard Polish Black Metal release, good quality output on the whole, but nothing to write home about when it comes to individual contributions. The guitars are very friendly, they don’t veer away into the black distance, the rhythm section is adequate and the vocals fit into the common Black Metal narrative. However, as ordinary as I make it sound up until now, the band together manages to weave a hypnotic atmosphere that essentially sucks you into their world. It’s funny, when you break apart the parts, you don’t see anything special, but together as a unit, the band operates at a phenomenal level. I’d say the band operates on a niche intersection of Black Metal, Prog Metal with elements of Electronic thrown in. One of the best representations of this is the track #4, ‘Ludzie Schronu (2034)’, where the band mixes all these elements and presents a phenomenal atmospheric track that elevates your senses into the ethereal sky, whilst the vocals bring you back into the reality of the music. I enjoyed listening to this album more than what I thought I would. If you’re a fan of Black / Atmospheric / Heavy Metal, check ZMARŁYM out. Their songwriting needs to be heard and enjoyed. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/zmarlym or www.facebook.com/godzovwarproductions