Polish progressive rock continues to be a force, and so much of it is top tier. Amarok is back with a new album called Hope, which releases on April 5th. It continues the trend of excellent Polish releases.
Amarok have been around for quite some time now, since 1999, though with a lengthy hiatus in the middle. Still, their output over the last 8 years has been remarkable. The current lineup includes Michał Wojtas on vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion, and e-drum; Kornel Popławski on bass, violin, cello, and vocals; Marta Wojtas on backing vocals, gong, and percussion; and Konrad Zieliński on drums and vocals.
Amarok has some of the typical traits of Polish prog. You’ll hear the throbbing bass front and center, the darker atmospheres, and the emotional guitar solos. They don’t end up sounding like everyone else, though, because of how pure and innocent and crystal-clear their sound is. Part of that has to do with Michał’s fantastic vocal performance, but it’s also in the way their music uses space, layers, and percussion effectively and distinctly.
You can hear this on all their albums. I’m most acquainted with 2004’s Metanoia and onwards, especially 2017’s amazing Hunt and 2021’s earworm Hero. Hope is most like Hero, I would say, as the band continues to find their own niche and their own style. This album, I would say, has a little more edge than older ones, more guitar and more riffs. But it still has that ensemble and almost mystical feeling to it, as well, and the band’s signature eccentricity.
The album features Michał on vocals, but you will also hear Kornel and Konrad on lead vocals on one track, respectively. The album puts both of those tracks smack dab in the middle, which I find a fitting and interesting structure. Both halves seem pretty equal to me, with each half having some towering highlights. I will say, though, that this album is a grower—it took several listens to grab me.
I absolutely adore the opener “Hope Is”; I love the voiceover and spacey vibes and the synth melodies. Such a great song. “Stay Human” is a quirky, rhythmic, circular sort of tune that can feel repetitive, but when I understood what they were trying to do, I began to like it. “Insomnia” is one the most razor-edged songs I think the band as made; it has plenty of emotion and all that, but the last half is like a driving force of anxious guitars. “Trail” follows and is a favorite—I like how it marches along with electronica, hovering vocals, and Oldfield-style guitar work, and then the second half brings a wave of heaviness that is not typical for the band. Sounds great!
The next two tracks offer a detour in vocals. Konrad ends the first half with “Welcome”, a piece that is casual and beautiful—I love the drumming. Kornel begins the second half with “Queen”, a quirky and colorful piece that slowly burns its way into multiple layers of stylish violin, floating vocals, and leering rhythms. Such a cool song. Of course, the instrumental “Perfect Run” comes next and is absolutely astonishing; it is well-named with how it drives and flows perfectly. It is such a satisfying piece.
The last three songs are good ones. I like “Don’t Surrender” for its emotional lyrics and guitar work. “Simple Pleasures” is a reserved song that is mostly vocals and some guitar; it might take the wind out of the album’s sails somewhat, but it is beautiful, nonetheless. Finally, “Dolina” is a textured, short closer which I love; it is gorgeous and Michał emotes so well on it, and in Polish. I do feel like the last three tracks being mostly reserved hurts the album overall, but that is just a track order issue.
Amarok hasn’t made a weak album, and this one has all the beauty and variety I have come to expect from them. Michał’s vocals are strong once again, as is his guitar work, but the whole band puts in a performance that will stay with me. And for an album called Hope, it certainly does leave you feeling uplifted and confident.
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The PROG Mind 