New beginning for Blindead 23.
After performing under the name Blindead for nearly 20 years, the Polish band changed its name in 2022 and released an EP two years later. In 2026, Patryk Zwolinski (vocals, ex-Antigama), Mateusz Smierzchalski (guitar, ex-Behemoth), and Pawel Jaroszewicz (drums, Patriarkh, ex-Antigama, ex-Batushka, ex-Hate, ex-Vader…), now joined by Roger Öjersson (guitar, ex-Katatonia, ex-Tiamat), signed with Peaceville Records for the release of their debut album, Deuterium.
The album begins very slowly and calmly with Immersion I, the opening track with soothing, ethereal sounds that lull us until the first riffs suddenly explode, creating a veritable wall of sound rooted in prog/post-metal that meets with very distinct vocal parts. While the verses feature distorted vocals, the choruses unfold with an intense clean voice, creating a stark contrast yet also a complementary dynamic blurred by noisier elements; then, with Immersion II, the band continues its musical experimentation. The track starts much earlier, featuring more aggressive yet still jerky riffs, suddenly softened by clean vocals and hypnotic melodies, once again swept away by explosive and heavy-as-can-be patterns, as well as a tortured solo and eventually a final that is, to say the least, disorienting, bordering on drone. We move on to Wither, a fairly short track that leaves us in silence before its first notes appear without warning, playing between soaring tones and a rather restless bass, but we sense the atmosphere tightening, only to suddenly evaporate in favor of Worst Laid Plans, a very long composition that kicks off with a bang with imposing tones, followed by more aggressive ones. Once again, everything about this track is unpredictable, whether it’s the rhythm section that shifts almost constantly or the abrasive harmonics that appear at will, but also the vocals that shift from growls to much softer notes before the minimalist break, then the oppressive return of distortion that blends the two voices in dissonance. The intriguing finale eventually gives way to Deuterium, the eponymous track that also begins calmly but subsequently exposes us to hellish sounds, once again playing with the contrast between its two roots and bouncing from one to the other before reaching Towards The Dark. The melody that reaches us is perfect for captivating our minds while the other elements settle in, but the tone darkens to develop an unsettling edge before becoming a bit faster, yet retaining the tranquility of the vocals to lead into You Are The Universe, the final track that quickly envelops us in an increasingly oppressive sonic veil, reaching its climax around the midpoint, then gradually subsiding again, leaving a piano to close out the album.
Blindead 23 may have taken a while to unveil their new album, but the complexity of the compositions is stunning! Expect the unexpected with Deuterium, whether in violence or tranquility!
85/100
Interview coming soon.