Perunwit "Wszystkie Odcienie Szarości" CD Digipack

Perunwit has been am evolving band since its very beginnings. While its music has evolved from record to record, every material was somehow close to the previous ones. But "Wszystkie odcienie szarości" was no longer just an evolution, but a real revolution. The band changed their style quite a lot and significantly enriched their sound. This contrast was even more visible as the previous album, "Perkunu Yra Dang II", was the most folk creation in Perunwit's output so far. After its release, Aro, the band's leader, said in interviews that he was not satisfied with sticking to folk patterns and was preparing big changes. He wasn't lying.
"Wszystkie odcienie szarości" is a very eclectic material. Opening the album "Pieśń o słońcu, płodności, narodzinach, życiu i śmierci" is a long, formally complex song, which is a folk, atmospheric story about human life. This is probably the composition closest to the band's older achievements on this album. But even here there is a lot going on - we have a variety of vocals, interestingly built atmospheres, and some electronic touch. But what happens next may come as a surprise. "Ostatnia droga wojownika" is a rock (sic!) song, in a typical song style - and only the anointed recitation and female choirs and lyrics remind us that it is still Perunwit. The first music video in the history of Perunwit was also shot for this song.
You can hear it even more in "Byś wiedział gdzie żyjesz i umrzesz". It's a nearly ten-minute composition that starts off in the style of RAC songs before going through changes of pace and rhythm, but remains heavy and rhythmic. Perunwit has not recorded anything similar so far. The final track, "Nowe pokolenie" is a step towards something like symphonic black metal, with very strong keyboards and samples, a bit of black metal vocals and sharp guitars. No wonder that some former fans of Perunwit hated the band after this album. This track is a kind of signpost showing where the band is going. An interesting fact is that it was not included on the first version of this material, but only on the reissue.
This does not mean that there are no more climactic things on the album. A great, though short, composition is "Czas zimowego triumfu" with nice vocal polyphony and the tribal sound. "Wszystkie odcienie szarości" is an attempt to reconcile the old with the new - a song where the most important thing is the atmosphere, we have folk sounds mixed with electric guitars. The vocals, a bit like on the band's early recordings, are hidden behind a wall of music.
This is probably the most thoughtful of the band's albums. It is true that I believe that all Perunwit albums should be listened to as a whole, but here the impression is stronger. Its diversity will be an advantage for some, and a disadvantage for others. There is certainly not the unique atmosphere of "W kręgu dębów" or "Perkunu yra dang II", but there is a lot of interesting music. Certainly, this album cannot be accused of being monotonous, for which Perunwit was criticized earlier. In addition, this is the band's first album that is also well recorded and produced. "Wszystkie odcienie szarości" is the Perunwit album that may be the easiest to like. There are catchy songs, interestingly built, atmospheric compositions and a bit of romantic folk. In this respect, the album is balanced and interesting. It is also a preview of what the band was developing on their next album. At the same time, it is a farewell to the 90s, the era when Perunwit was a very important element of the Polish pagan underground scene.

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