Music of Poland - Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal

In the early 1980s, in the times of martial law, Polish heavy metal began its existence. TSA and Turbo were the first Polish heavy metal bands. Turbo was often dubbed as "the Polish Iron Maiden", while TSA played in a similar style to AC/DC. A lot of Polish heavy metal bands played at Jarocin Music Festival. 1985 was a crucial year for polish heavy metal - Iron Maiden played a concert in Szczecin, Poland. The concert was the cause of an avalanche of new polish metal bands. KAT was the first thrash metal band. KAT was very satanic, with lyrics moving such topics like LaVey's philosophy and anticlerical lyrics. This band was the symbol of metal rebellion in Poland and first Polish band who openly attacked Church. KAT made their debut in 1985 with the single "Ostatni Tabor / Noce Szatana" (last fleet/Satan's nights), heavy/speed metal "666" from 1986 and thrash metal "Oddech Wymarłych Światów" (the breath of dead worlds) from 1988. Poland had a very strong thrash metal scene in the late 80s. Most popular Polish thrash metal bands were Wilczy Pająk (Wolf Spider), Dragon, Destroyers, Hammer, Open Fire, STOS, Hellias and Alastor. Polish thrash and early death underground of the late 1980s: Exorcist, Imperator, Vader, Smirnoff, Armagedon, Piekielne Wrota (Hellish Gates), Quo Vadis, Egzekuthor. Late 80s Poland was already filled with metalheads - thrashers in kutte's (jeans or denim jackets with severed arms, covered in patches etc.), leather jackets, jeans, white sneakers, biker shoes, or most notably as of today - steel capped shoes called glany in Polish.

1990s Poland had a very strong death metal scene. One of the biggest record labels of death metal in Poland is Empire Records. The death metal band Vader is considered the most successful Polish heavy metal act and have gained commercial and critical praise internationally. Their career spans more than three decades with many international tours. They are often seen as a huge inspiration for modern death metal. Both Behemoth and Decapitated have also found significant success both inside and outside of Poland. Both have toured extensively across Europe, America, and in the case of Decapitated, have recently toured Australia and New Zealand. Recently Indukti, Hate, Trauma, Crionics, Lost Soul and Lux Occulta have started to become well known outside of Poland. Though there is also a healthy and active grindcore scene, death metal remains Poland's strongest and most successful genre in terms of heavy metal. There also exists black metal, led by bands such as Graveland, Darzamat, Infernal War and Vesania.