Morbid Affection to Darkness

Faithful to his commitment, Balrog returns with the new full-length album by Czarna Magia from Poland, titled ‘Morbid Affection to Darkness’. This album is released in December 2024, two years after the quite good ‘Merciless Trap of Civilization’, by The End of Time Records, which has undertaken all the band’s physical releases, in collaboration with Symbol of Domination. You can find the album in digital form and in a physical, limited to 500 copies, CD format. The album contains eight songs with a total duration of forty-three minutes.

Musically, the band remains true to the sound they have presented in their previous works, but with some small changes that catch the listener’s attention. Their sound is that primitive Black/Death sound influenced by the first wave of Black Metal. Beyond their classic, straightforward, and simplistic style, here you will encounter some parts that present a more psychedelic, hypnotic side of the band, aiming, in my opinion, to deliver more accurately the cosmic darkness and chaos depicted in the lyrics. The riffs generally follow simplistic patterns, with interesting changes and smooth progression of each track. The tracks are quite long, five to six minutes each. So, there are two cases here: some tracks flow very smoothly and keep the listener engaged throughout their duration. However, there are also some tracks, mainly due to less interesting changes or riffs, that somewhat tire the listener. This, of course, happens in very few parts and does not affect the overall positive image of the album. The lyrics in six tracks are written in English, one in Polish, and one has no lyrics. They present personal views and experiences related to chaos, darkness, power, and emotions.

Regarding the sound, I have always liked this heavy, dark, and bassy sound that this band produces. Without muddying the final result, it produces a very bassy, dark, and warm outcome that perfectly matches the style of their music. Here too, Balrog is responsible for all the instruments, showing noticeable improvement from album to album. The guitars deliver the riffs with precision and professionalism, beautifully expressing all the emotions and images. For me, the bass is the highlight of the album, as its sound is clear and at the forefront of the mix, often drawing attention with its dark riffs and collaborating perfectly with the guitars. The drums are improved compared to previous albums, but here too their lines are simplistic without many interesting moments. The vocals are rough, primitive Death/Black with a lot of passion and intensity. The mix is very good, highlighting the bass and guitars, achieving balance in the sounds. In conclusion, I can say that ‘Morbid Affection to Darkness’ is quite a good effort. Musically, it does not differ from what the band has presented so far, but it shows that they are not stagnant and are working on their sound and compositions, improving problems they had in the past. Their loyal fans will surely be satisfied with their new release. For those who have not yet met them, this album might be a great introduction to the band.