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Wilczy Pająk (1987)
Wilczy Pająk's debut is a solid dose of ‘80s speed/thrash, more akin to Kawaleria Szatana from Turbo than the harsher stuff from Kat. A lot of the riffs here draw more from the early part of the decade as opposed to what was going on around the time it was recorded. The main theme of “Nocny strach” is an example of this. The guitar solos are another highlight, hearkening back to NWOBHM acts like Diamond Head. The thrashier moments, like on “Nóż w dłoni,” show traces of early Metallica and Megadeth influence.
The songwriting and musicianship are solid. Everything flows well and is executed effortlessly. These guys are quite skilled. The vocalist isn’t the greatest, but he can sing well enough, especially in his own language. He even handles the slower, more mournful parts of “Groźba” better than one might expect. His performance on this record is superior to that which followed, especially as the band became obsessed with the goofier elements from Anthrax's Among the Living a couple year later. It's almost good that they anglicized their name to Wolf Spider by that point as it feels like two separate bands.
The sound quality might be considered low for 1987, but it adds charm. Considering this band came from behind the Iron Curtain in communist Poland, the fact this even exists is impressive. This is, by far, the best album Wilczy Pająk ever made. “Żądna ofiary twarz,” “Momento Mori,” and “Upadek imperium” are the standouts, though, at only 35 minutes, you might as well listen to the whole thing in one go. Wilczy Pająk is highly recommended.
The songwriting and musicianship are solid. Everything flows well and is executed effortlessly. These guys are quite skilled. The vocalist isn’t the greatest, but he can sing well enough, especially in his own language. He even handles the slower, more mournful parts of “Groźba” better than one might expect. His performance on this record is superior to that which followed, especially as the band became obsessed with the goofier elements from Anthrax's Among the Living a couple year later. It's almost good that they anglicized their name to Wolf Spider by that point as it feels like two separate bands.
The sound quality might be considered low for 1987, but it adds charm. Considering this band came from behind the Iron Curtain in communist Poland, the fact this even exists is impressive. This is, by far, the best album Wilczy Pająk ever made. “Żądna ofiary twarz,” “Momento Mori,” and “Upadek imperium” are the standouts, though, at only 35 minutes, you might as well listen to the whole thing in one go. Wilczy Pająk is highly recommended.
(29 Apr. 2025)
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