Review by SzejkElRopa on January 12, 2026.

I mentioned Odraza multiple times in my reviews as a probable inspiration for younger bands, especially when the band had a city motif in their lyrics. I had known Odraza before I even started reviewing albums here, but I had never done a deeper dive into this band. The only thing I knew about them was "oh, yeah, this band is about alcohol and the city". Even though I haven't listened to them manically, they left a lasting impression on me. And I know for sure that it won't fade for a long time after listening to "Esperalem Tkane".

The first thing that catches the eye is the cover art. It shows a woman sitting on the dirty floor with numerous cigarette butts. No pentagrams, no devils, no skeletons, no "deep nocturnal forests" or any stuff like that. It must have caught many black metal fans off guard in 2014, taking into account the fact that it is quite vulgar due to a nipple being shown. However, no matter how well-done the cover is, the music is the most important. In brief, it is at least as vulgar, brutal, and dirty as the cover. For instance, let's take a closer look at 'Wielki Mizogin'. This track is schizophrenic and vulgar, to be sure. It lasts only a little over three minutes, but it is more powerful than many "evil" bands. Of course, 'Wielki Mizogin' isn't the only track like this. Another example can be the middle section in 'Gorycz', when the song becomes incredibly suffocating, and when Stawrogin can be heard screaming "A więc wóda! Wóda! Wóda jeszcze raz!". Moments like this stay memorable for a very, very long time. What crafts the most atmosphere are the drums – shout out to Priest, who is one of the best drummers I have ever heard. To conclude, Odraza created something lurking in the deepest corners of the city at night. I would even risk writing that this record smells of alcohol, although I haven't accessed a physical version yet.

If Odraza played brutally for over 46 minutes, the album would become boring, or at least not as great as it is. Albeit the suffocating sections are well-done, as aforesaid, there is something making Odraza special. I am talking about the jazzy sections. At first, it might seem unfitting, especially in an album with such hard topics being covered. However, once again, Odraza defends itself. For instance, that jazzy/bluesy section in 'Esperalem Tkane' creates an atmosphere of hopelessness and decay, drowned in alcohol and cigarettes, instead of trying to sound different for no reason. Most of that track isn't as heavy as 'Wielki Mizogin', for example, and it can serve as a comparison to the heavier parts of this album. Moving on, this is not the only example of a jazzy section in this album. At the end of 'Próg', a melody with an acoustic guitar can be heard. It adds another layer to the atmosphere, making disgust (English for "odraza") in some unique way beautiful. Lastly, 'Tam, Gdzie Nas Nie Spotkamy' brings an unsettling feeling of pathology and decay. The half-clean vocals are the best part of that song. Of course, I won't point out every single note, moment, etc. that stuck with me, because it would be pointless, and the best thing I can advise is to check this album out.

Stawrogin, with his possessed screams, makes one of the best performances I have ever heard. It is hard to describe how uniquely well these vocals work with other instruments. Everything seems to be put perfectly in place. Apart from screams, he also whispers and sings. The guitars aren't just strumming tremolo riffs all the time; the work here is far more complex. The riffs are incredibly heavy for black metal most of the time; however, they are memorable and very well-crafted. My favorite part was obviously the solo in 'Próg', which fitted the song effectively. The drums, as said before, are also incredibly well-played. Priest knows plenty of moves; he plays blast beats without any sense of blandness. At times, blast beats are played without any emotion, just to speed up the song. Here, there is something completely different. I bow my head to him because, taking his skills into account, he could be a good opponent for Darkside in a drum-playing competition. The bass wasn't lost in mastering and can be heard continuously.

Lyrics really, and I mean really, reflect the life of many people, especially in Poland. They talk about how damaged society can be thanks to alcohol, and what reality looks like for many addicts. Contrary to many thrash metal bands that talk about alcohol as something fun and good, Odraza takes it to a whole new level. The lyrics are full of references to poems and other songs, at least according to what I have read. The fact that the lyrics are in Polish can be a problem for non-Polish speakers to understand, but despite that, they are a very valuable part of the album.

"Esperalem Tkane" is an album with a unique feeling. It is the greatest example that black metal didn't finish in the nineties. It needs time; however, trying to understand this album pays off. I give it 98%, because "Rzeczom", the next album by Priest and Stawrogin, is better.

Rating: 9.8 out of 10