⛧
Mysticism (1995)
Hailing from Poland, Wiatyk was a project that existed for but a brief time. Their first demo, Mysticism, was recorded in 1995 and features just under twenty minutes of dreary, mostly mid-tempo black metal. The sound is lo-fi but decent enough for everything to be heard, with a thin guitar tone that adds to the cold feeling of the tremolo melodies. Similar at times to early Mütiilation or Warloghe's The Black Tower, the riffs are bleak and melancholic. Some are eerily familiar, though I can't quite put my finger on what they remind me of.
The drums (or drum machine?) are a little too high in the mix but not to an extreme level. The vocals have a dry, grim feeling that conveys pure hatred. Sparse keyboards are used just enough to add an unsettling feeling, such as on “The Wood”. The playing is slightly loose at times, but this more or less works with the style and doesn’t hinder the band from creating a genuinely gloomy atmosphere, best exemplified on a track like “In Lucis Luna”. With its mournful and haunting riffs, it’s easily one of the standouts.
Like most of their countrymen, Wiatyk took inspiration from the northern bands but still managed to produce something strong enough to stand on its own. Mysticism definitely surpasses a lot of the better-known releases from Poland and should appeal to those into classic ’90s black metal.
The drums (or drum machine?) are a little too high in the mix but not to an extreme level. The vocals have a dry, grim feeling that conveys pure hatred. Sparse keyboards are used just enough to add an unsettling feeling, such as on “The Wood”. The playing is slightly loose at times, but this more or less works with the style and doesn’t hinder the band from creating a genuinely gloomy atmosphere, best exemplified on a track like “In Lucis Luna”. With its mournful and haunting riffs, it’s easily one of the standouts.
Like most of their countrymen, Wiatyk took inspiration from the northern bands but still managed to produce something strong enough to stand on its own. Mysticism definitely surpasses a lot of the better-known releases from Poland and should appeal to those into classic ’90s black metal.
(26 June 2025)
Last Updated: You are Visitor #: