JOHAN WOLFGANG POZOJ
The second part of a trilogy, ‘Escape of Pozoj’ was first released in 2009 and has now been remastered to be re-released through Code666 Records. Johann Wolfgang Pozoj are a Croatian five-piece avant-garde black metal bunch that came together with the idea of making music without limitations, and this album makes some very interesting crossovers that is at once deeply atmospheric, very powerful, and blackly regal. Individually and taken as a whole, the tracks are hypnotic and mesmerising. The opening track has John Carpenter written all over it and slowly builds out of one bass note into a flurry of black metal fury before BM ire is fully unbound. What follows ranges from the sombre to the dark and ambient and is interspersed with sumptuous slicing riffs and black metal wrath. But the black metal feels different to what is usually expected from the genre. It has elements of post- and Cascadian black metal and so is very evocative and has a depth that is earthy and ethereal, particularly when juxtaposed with the vastly atmospheric earthly murmurs. There’s something distinctly elemental to this album, something organic, as of light emanating from the dark mystery of a dense forest, and JWPozoj have delivered something very intriguing.
The band’s performance is top notch. Borcic’s vocals in particular are captivating, haunting even, as he varies his approach between a snarl and a baritone speaking voice to augment the shifting textures. The guitar work ranges from darkened strums to melodic passages to fluid arpeggios, all of which are impressive in their scope and ability to create both dense and expansive passages. And shock on shock, the bassist can be heard! And what can be heard is a bassist with keen melodic sensibilities and the rhythmic prowess to work with the notable drum-work. Johann Wolfgang Pozoj is a band that works together to exploit its strengths when and where is necessary for the music. And that collaborative and utilitarian approach is what makes this an accomplished album that deserves the polished re-release that Code666 have granted it. This is captivating and utterly enthralling and makes parts one and three of the trilogy that much more intriguing.
The band’s performance is top notch. Borcic’s vocals in particular are captivating, haunting even, as he varies his approach between a snarl and a baritone speaking voice to augment the shifting textures. The guitar work ranges from darkened strums to melodic passages to fluid arpeggios, all of which are impressive in their scope and ability to create both dense and expansive passages. And shock on shock, the bassist can be heard! And what can be heard is a bassist with keen melodic sensibilities and the rhythmic prowess to work with the notable drum-work. Johann Wolfgang Pozoj is a band that works together to exploit its strengths when and where is necessary for the music. And that collaborative and utilitarian approach is what makes this an accomplished album that deserves the polished re-release that Code666 have granted it. This is captivating and utterly enthralling and makes parts one and three of the trilogy that much more intriguing.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Code666
Album
ESCAPE OF POZOJ
Review by Jason Guest
RUNNING TIME:
48:25
RELEASE DATE:
14th Nov 2011
TRACK LISTING
1) Prolog: Vjecno Robljem
2) Iz Grotla Života
3) --- (instrumental)
4) Song of Pozoj
5) Trpaš se po Mesima
6) Careless Are Your Souls
7) I Am the Forest
8) Prstima Prelazim Preko Tvoga Tijela...
2) Iz Grotla Života
3) --- (instrumental)
4) Song of Pozoj
5) Trpaš se po Mesima
6) Careless Are Your Souls
7) I Am the Forest
8) Prstima Prelazim Preko Tvoga Tijela...
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Croatia
"...this album makes some very interesting crossovers that is at once deeply atmospheric, very powerful, and blackly regal."
