Release Date: September 07th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD
Diabel - Tracklisting
1.Strach 04:07
2.X 05:52
3.Mój Bóg Nie Umarł 04:17
4.Z Głębi Ran 04:20
5.Morte 06:22
6.Do Krwi 04:17
7.Spowiedź Oszukanego 08:31
8.Diabeł 04:14
9.Gasnące Kolory 03:45
Members
Łukasz Piłasiewicz - guitar
Hubert Bzoma - vocals and bass
Przemek Bobrowicz - drums
Marcin Jerzyna - bass
Robert Zapała - guitar
Review
Diabel is the second album from Sludge/Stoner Metallers Optical Sun who operate with a “Post-Whatever” attitude with their music but what makes this more interesting is how the band rely on their Polish heritage to influence on how the whole story line of the record plays out. As the album contains speaking samples from the art horror movie "Diabeł" by A. Żuławski and poems by Kazimierz Ratoń and Zbigniew Jerzyna. Optical Sun also uses samples and visuals from old Polish films, including Jerzy Łukaszewicz's "Przyjaciel Wesołego Diabła" (Friend of the Merry Devil) and the 1936 "Pan Twardowski". Well, that’s the information that’s been provided for the album. Diabel means “DEVIL” in English and Optical Sun taps superbly well into the “OCCULT / HORROR” vibe that the album contains. They play a heavy stylish take on the Post-Doom/Sludge Metal sound with flashes of Psych Rock that you would expect from the infamous Polish underground metal scene. The vocals by Hubert Bzoma are sung in Polish so I can't really comment on what the lyrics are saying but the whole atmosphere and electric soundclips add a menacing vibe to the record with plenty of sludgy guitars whilst highly atmospheric isn’t leaning into Post-Metal surroundings. There’s a high reliance from Optical Sun playing down-tuned / low & slow instrumental passages with trippy noises coming across throughout the whole album.
Diabel is boosted by a raw sounding production values which adds a sense of griminess to the whole experience with the band playing similar vibes to their fellow Doomsters such as Spaceslug, Dopelord and Belzebong but with Optical Sun focusing primarily on that “Post-Sludge” environment which becomes more theatrical in places. Other standout tracks includes: Mój Bóg Nie Umarł, Morte, Spowiedź Oszukanego and Diabeł where Optical Sun play some of the most interesting and coolest sounds of the album. Perhaps not the heaviest but they conjure up grand ideas and the payoff is greater with some intense Psychedelic and Occult imagery being projected into your senses. Diabel is a mighty fine record if you like your Sludge/Stoner Metal a little “off-beat” and dares to be that little bit different with some horrifying themes to match. Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
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