Warrior
Self-Released, 2020
8/10
A Polish outfit with a penchant for guitar rock, grunge, prog-rock and even psyche-rock, this sophomore album from The Freuders has all 4 members singing across 9 very inviting songs.
“Hannibal” starts the listen with a thick and energetic display of tuneful and rugged hard rock where smooth vocals guide the fuzzed out opener, and “Trauma Coma” follows with a mix of talking and singing as a calmer atmosphere unfolds with a soaring and melodic crunch.
Near the middle, “Warrior” adds bits of post-rock to the angular delivery of hypnotic musicianship, while “Dijuth” balances gentle moments of beauty with bouts of bristling alt-rock. “Maria Stuart”, one of the album’s best, then recruits a firm psychedelic slant to the mysterious landscape.
Close to the end, “Tension” lands in some form of retro-rock amid fantastic guitar work, and “Anamnesis III” finishes out the listen with Zurkowski appearing on vocals in the varied and dynamic finish to a very well executed effort.
The Freuders have already made quite a name for themselves in their home country, and with the strong songwriting and the hard hitting yet melodic formula that Warrior offers, it won’t be long until their fanbase extends across the globe.
Travels well with: Azonic- Prospect Of The Deep Volume One; Clustersun- Surfacing To Breathe