ABRAXAS

“99”
(Metal Mind Records, 1999)

 Members:
Adam Lassa (voice), Szymon Brzezinski (guitars), Marcin Blaszczyk (keys and flute),
Rafal Ratajczak (bass) and Marcin Mak (drums and percussions).

This disk would be that of farewell for the Polish band, because it separated after the tour of corresponding promotion. The artistic tendency continues for the same path that its immediate predecessor “Centurie”, with a bigger narrative accent, because a good part of the lyrical ones appears interpreted by the vocalist by means of the one recited. Another factor that enhances the narration air that crosses to “99” it is the presence of several brief instrumental interludes (as “Czekam” and “37”) that produce an effect similar to that of the transition from a scene to another in the sequence of a story. In certain way this disk not suffers of the sense of cohesion that they had its two predecessors in a rounder way, for the lack of good musical ideas, but because they are not assembled perfectly in a group vision it completes: but definitively, it is another artistic victory on behalf of Abraxas. 

The entrance track, “14.06.1999”, it is an effective number, full with being able to rocker, but it is newly in “Jezebel” that the definitely most progressive edges begin to be made notice: this is superbly a topic coloring, of epic court, plethoric of emotional density. The same attitude repeats in “Iris” and “Noel”, although with a quota more emotivity measure. “Anatema, Czyli Moje Obsejse” it also exhibits a remarkable artistic ambition, although in its case it feels a darker point, almost “impenetrable”. The track of more hook is without a doubt “Spowiedz”, with a well structured and quite recognizable melody, also executed with genuine it was rocker; on the other hand, the electronic vanguard makes act of presence frontal in “Petla Medialna”. The last two topics explore more rested atmospheres: especially it highlights “Moje Mantry”, with its remarkable symphonic textures of keyboard, and an alone of persistent guitar that wraps the listener emotionally. In summary, other exquisite work of Abraxas that is good as great fastener of gold for their quite meritorious discographic career. 

César Inca