Malchus marks their 20th year as a band with the release of Aż Żal Umierać, an album filled with their trademark honest and challenging lyrics set to a blend of melodic folk and death metal. The complex arrangements, passion, and performances make it one of the best albums of the year for 2024 and if it would have been released 2 weeks later it would have ended up one of the best of 2025 by the end of the year.
The band Malchus presents the fifth single “I am” from the band’s latest album titled “It’s a pity to die”, whose premiere took place on 20.12.2024. “It’s a pity to die” is the fruit of 3 years of work on the material and at the same time the culmination of the 20-year team activity. The album contains 13 songs recorded in Studio Roslyn in Ró wa. Malchus was founded in 2004 on the initiative of Radosław Sołka in a small town in Sub Carpathian region – Przeworsk. Due to personnel changes, the band has been operating in D ,bica since 2014. Over time, the band has released 8 albums and performed at many concerts in the country and abroad.
Twenty years as a band is a notable achievement on its own and one that Malchus can celebrate. More importantly, they have crafted a unique sound that has seen them journey from an early punk rock demo (that I’d like to hear) through folk metal to melodic death metal to where they are now, which is an amalgamation of all the musical elements from the journey. Along the way, the band has even released two English version of the albums Dziedzictwo (2019), which is Heritage (2022) and Dom Zly (2014) which is The Evil House (2016). While I certainly appreciate those, the original versions in Polish seem to hit harder and even though I speak no Polish, I’ve been a fan since I first heard and reviewed the more folk-influenced Caput Mundi in 2011. Aż Żal Umierać marks the 20th year for the band, and follows the release of vocalist/guitarist Radosław Sołek’s epic album 1863 (2023),which is a look at the 1863 January Uprising that is a vital part of Polish history. The album was composed, arranged, and produced by the band with the gorgeous artwork by Sławomir Rudnicki-Drabik – Grindhouse Alternative Art Studio.
The album begins with a somewhat ominous sounding “Prelude” with guitars that build nicely backed by a complicated drum pattern and some whispering before Radosław Sołek’s gruff vocals come in describing how we often prefer to ignore the world around us in the hope of inner peace. Fittingly the song transitions without a break into “Talitha kum” (child arise). Here we get the first taste of the folk influences coming in although they are subdued in most of the song. The verse sections are driving and heavy with the chorus being catchy. Transitions abound in the song as you go from thrash speed, to more melodic sections and the folk/traditional instrument driven interludes that Malchus is famous for.
“Mądrość “(Wisdom) starts out much calmer with a slower, heavy opening with layered guitar parts. Underlying the song is a pummeling rhythm section again, characteristic of the band’s previous efforts. Choir vocals are put to good use and there is a near breakdown at one point in the song. I have always enjoyed how Malchus have arranged their songs being able to insert calmer interludes in their songs, in this case some clean guitar and muted drums, which then continues in the background once the heavy guitars and drums come in before the main riff takes over to close out the song. “Pokuta” (Penance) begins similar with the slower, heavier opening moving quickly to a galloping pace and then transitioning through multiple different parts throughout the song. For some variety, this track has a brief guitar solo and then a harmony guitar part that work well within the song. Tomasz “papirus” Pyzia drum work on this track really stands out and the production and mixing/mastering is perfect for the band’s complex arrangements.
Not only do the folk elements really come to the forefront in “Kwiecień” (April) but Bartosz Tulik work on the bass guitar really shines as it drives much of the song. The way the band incorporates the multiple elements of their sound come together well in this track and are well mixed so all contribute. As if to keep the listener guessing what might be coming next, “Prawda” (Truth) opens up with atmospheric keyboards and bass and then keep their leading role through much of the song which again has many quieter moments. The song itself like many on the album address the plight of man in the current world, in this case, questioning whether man even wants truth anymore or is willing to feast on lies.
“Ja jestem” (I am) is one of the more powerful songs on the album and the main riff with the traditional instrument accents is incredibly catchy. From the band, the song itself was inspired by a slogan seen in a pro-abortion demonstration that read “we will not go back to the Middle Ages” and how in the ancient world infant sacrifice used to be a way to appease the gods with the modern gods now being money and career for which people will sacrifice responsibility and innocent life. Social commentary follows in the next two songs with Różowy gwizdek (Pink Whistle) talking about how society often focuses on the next shiny object and “Outlander”, which is based on a portion of the work of the Polish bard A. Mickiewicz which describes a Civilization of Death that has come to be in fashion.
Interestingly, “Aż żal umierać (It’s a Pity to Die) has the band’s punk rock roots showing through and was a bit of a surprise as the song is one of the more stripped down, simple guitar-driven songs on the album. “Wdowi grosz” (Widow’s Penny) is one of the many videos from the album the band has released and is focused on how people can and have come together to support each other and even strangers following some type of catastrophe. The song has a great groove to it in sections as well as the other elements the band is known for.
Aż Żal Umierać is a culmination of 20 years for Malchus and as a whole album stands out among their catalog. All of the many elements to their sound that they have incorporated over the years are present in this album and often within one song. The passion for the music shines through these performances and the songwriting and arrangements show the confidence of a band that knows their sound. Probably my favorite Malchus album from start to finish and easily one of the best albums of the year.
Rating: 10/10
Written by John Jackson
Tracklist
- Preludium (Prelude)
- Talitha kum (Child, arise)
- Mądrość (Wisdom)
- Pokuta (Penance)
- Kwiecień (April)
- Prawda (Truth)
- Sodoma (Sodom)
- Ja jestem (I Am)
- Różowy gwizdek (Pink Whistle)
- Outlander
- Aż żal umierać (It’s a Pity to Die)
- Wdowi grosz (Widow’s Penny)
- Kto mnie obudzi (Who Will Wake Me Up)
Band Members
Radosław Sołek – Guitar, vocals
Lukasz Pyra – Guitar
Bartosz Tulik – Bass
Tomasz “papirus” Pyzia – Drums
Release Date: 20 December 2024
Record Label: Independent
Video for “Różowy Gwizdek” (Pink Whistle):
Video for “Mądrość (Wisdom):
Video for “Sodoma” (Sodom):
Video for “Wdowi Grosz” (Widow’s Penny):
Lyric video for “Ja jestem” (I Am):
Video for “Outlander”: