Hailing from Poland, TRUP makes their morbid appearance with their latest release, NIE. This is a crushingly heavy release, sporting five albums that have elements of black metal, hardcore, power violence, and any other heavy metal genre you can probably rattle off. Keeping them selves rather cryptic with the meaning behind their tracks, what little I could fish out is interesting to say the least. The name of the band its self translates to corpse in English while the name of the album, NIE means no. Though, while I doubt that this is what the band was aiming for, the name of the album is also short for Niepodległość which was an anticommunist group formed in the 40s as a reaction to the Soviet Union.
Right at the start of the album you’re assaulted with a gritty production and a deathly cold snare drum hammering away at a blast beat along side droning guitars and a powerful, rumbling bass. The first track is very much a great starting point for what else is to come within this release. Unforgiving, harsh, and incredibly emotional thanks to the screaming vocals who sound like a panicked animal barking out its last calls of help. The songwriting is rather interesting, with it staying consistently one note through out the track with only a few slower moments to help draw out the atmosphere and setting. The rest of the tracks follow suit with some harsh drum playing that really hammer away at that snare and some almost hardcore style guitar pieces.
The one track to me that stands out is the third track, with its ominous guitar, sluggish pace and all around haunting atmosphere, it really stands out from the rest of the album, and very much in a good way. The progression of the song its self is very much like a horror movie, with a slow beginning that builds up to the peak with some crushing vocals and guitars that start shrieking alongside one another much like the protagonist in a horror movie. The rest of the track follows the path of the monster, really giving this angry yet still ominous feeling that you just can’t shake off after listening to it. Truly a masterwork in songwriting and an incredibly piece to dive your head right into if you’re just looking for one track.
All in all this band is very much a great little hidden gem that I feel have gone rather unnoticed for the most part this year. Their cryptic and underground aesthetic is incredibly alluring and what sounds they make truly rattle you down to the soul, leaving a lasting impact after just one listen. Though they only have a two full length releases, their 3 Eps are also worth checking out as well. Highly recommended for those who are interested in the heavier side of things.