The experimental/metal band from Poland, Whalesong, has recently released their new full-length album, “Leaving A Dream”. Don’t be misled by the ‘metal’ label; the album offers a diverse range of sounds that fans of Swans or Einstürzende Neubauten should appreciate.

“Leaving A Dream” is an impressive 16-track strong album, spanning over 120 minutes. Yes, over 120 minutes! It was composed between 2016 and 2020 and recorded at Antisound Studio in Poland on various dates from 2020 to 2023.

The album features a range of guest artists, including Attila Csihar (of Sunn O))), Mayhem, and Tormentor), Steve Blanco (from Imperial Triumphant), and Wukir Suryadi (of Senyawa).

Whalesong is an experimental music collective hailing from Poland, led primarily by Michal Kielbasa, known for his work with Grave of Love, Lugola, Harmony of Struggle, and NHC. Established in 2009, from its inception, the band has drawn significant influence from genres such as industrial, noise rock, no wave, and drone. Over the years, they’ve forged a distinctive style that melds post-rock, doom metal, jazz, psychedelic rock, neofolk, and post-punk.

In recent times, they’ve collaborated with notable artists such as Thor Harris (of Swans and Wrekmeister Harmonies) and Wacław Kiełtyka (from Decapitated and Machine Head).

Warmly recommended! Also check out the new video for “Struggle”. Read the review of ‘Leaving A Dream’.

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Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Genre/Influences: Neo-Folk, Chanson.

Format: Digital, CD, Cassette.

Background/Info: Four years after the debut-EP “Decay” (Rage In Eden) Polish musician Michal Kielbasa strikes back with his debut album featuring twelve songs.  

Content: The songs are mainly driven by good-old Neo-Folk influences, but Grave Of Love also injected other elements. There’s a kind of Apocalyptic-Rock supporting the songs, but also a kind of ‘Chanson Noir’. Without making too many comparisons we might speak about an imaginary hybrid between The Swans (for the heavy, apocalyptic composition) and Death In June (for the typical Neo-Folk style).

+ + + : There’s a dark, desperate and obscure sphere hanging over the album. It creates this ‘apocalyptic’ style, which I especially like on “Death Of Hope” and “Time Heals Nothing”. The titles and lyrics perfectly reflect the global approach of this work. I also have to say a word about the vocals, which have a very charismatic style.

– – – : Originality is hard to find, but Grave Of Love has seriously improved the global production.

Conclusion: “All Those Tears Ago” will catch the attention of Neo-Folk fans.

Best songs: “Time Heals Nothing”, “Remains Of Grief”, “Tears May Fall”, “Death Of Hope”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/graveoflove

Label: www.onlythesunknows.com / www.facebook.com/onlythesunknows

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Genre/Influences: Neo-folk, industrial, dark-ambient.

Background/Info: Michal Kielbasa is a Polish musician who’s inspired by some of the most famous neo-folk artists. “Decay” is the artist’s official debut work, which has been released in his homeland on the established Rage In Eden Records.

Content: “Decay” takes off with stereotypical neo-folk songs. The artist is clearly inspired by Death In June. That’s an element you clearly can hear in the music, the image and even some lyrical references. But some songs also touch ground with more industrial-like creations. These songs are more tormented and sound-wise pretty different from the opening part. I also noticed the quite surprising “The Flower Forever Dies”, which sounds inspired by the famous post-punk like “Warm Leatherette” from The Normal.

+ + + : If you’re into neo-folk music and you’re not in search of something new, this album might fulfill your expectations. I prefer the work for its darker content revealed anguished atmospheres, which perfectly fit with the spooky vocal parts. The industrial input is also worthy of examination. “Decay” sounds pretty diversified covering multiple-, but related music genres.

– – – : Grave Of Love reminds me of multiple ‘debuting’ formations who’re in search of sound identity. I don’t have anything against varied compositions, but this artist deals with the different music genres he likes instead of focusing on one specific style. The neo-folk style is too cliché and without real interest.

Conclusion: Grave Of Love uses a wide sonic canvas and can be better elaborate the most interesting idea running through this debut work, which appears to be the industrial side.

Best songs: “The Flower Forever Dies”, “Keep The Flame Burning”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.facebook.com/graveoflove

Label: www.rageineden.org / www.facebook.com/rageinedenrecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com