Release Date: January 01st 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
YAAK - Tracklisting
1.The Witch 06:12
2.Sing me to sleep 04:07
3.Parasites 05:07
4.WAR WAR WAR 03:34
5.Surrounded 05:39
Members
Arni Lundberg - vocals
Daniel Grzegorczyk - guitar
Przemysław Gomuła - guitar, backing vocals
Zuza Klauda - bass
Miłosz Czerwonka - drums
Review
Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers YAAK release their self-titled EP which features a sludgy aspect of Punk Rock into the mix. The record starts with an outlandish attitude with the music having a weird stop/start aspect and the vocals moving from clean vocals to harsh DEATH based growls. I will admit the whole sound does take a few moments to fully get used to especially within the opening track The Witch. I even expected a straightforward style of Doom/Stoner Metal with YAAK coming from the infamous Polish underground metal scene.
So it’s to YAAK’s credit for delivering their own great blend of music to release as their debut EP. Their record does have a twisted DESERT METAL sound which allows the band to move between the more extreme aspects of the underground STONER scene. There’s some great levels of AMPLIFIER DISTORTION and FUZZY REVERB along the way with YAAK offering a demented audio experience along the way.
YAAK take influence from the likes of WEEDEATER, BONGZILLA, HIGH ON FIRE, KYUSS and FU MANCHU when the blackened Desert Rock themes fully start to arrive within the excellent second track of Sing Me To Sleep, though only if KYUSS or FU MANCHU sold their souls to LUCIFER themselves. It’s an intriguing concept and YAAK fully sells that premise superbly well and to the best of their ability.
The remaining three tracks of the EP allows YAAK to travel further along the Stoner Metal highway with deafening levels of deceptive BLACKENED FUZZ and DOOM METAL only amplifying their overall sound. The vocals become even more pissed off on tracks such as Parasites and WAR WAR WAR. The production values are great for the most part with a few raw sounding moments but I feel those aspects are intentional to allow YAAK to hammer home the heaviest and aggressive grooves for the listener to fully experience.
YAAK’s debut EP is a wicked interpretation of the modern Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene that does want me to hear more as when the band focuses on a more riff-centric sound they play some truly great sounds of their own making.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
