The Music of Poland covers diverse aspects of music and musical traditions which have originated, and are practiced in Poland. Artists from Poland include world-famous classical composers like Frédéric Chopin, Karol Szymanowski, Witold Lutosławski, Henryk Górecki and Krzysztof Penderecki; renowned pianists like Karl Tausig, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Arthur Rubinstein and Krystian Zimerman; as well as popular music artists, and traditional, regionalised folk music ensembles that create a rich and lively music scene at the grassroots level. The musicians of Poland, over the course of history, have developed and popularized a variety of music genres and folk dances such as mazurka, polonaise, krakowiak, kujawiak, polska partner dance, oberek; as well as the sung poetry genre and others. Mazurka (Mazur), Krakowiak, Kujawiak, Oberek and Polonaise (Polonez) are registered as Polish National Dances, originating in early Middle Ages. The oldest of them is Polonaise that comes from the Medieval pageant dances and it was originally called "chodzony", a "walking dance".
Behemoth is a Polish extreme metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground.
Samael is a Swiss extreme metal band formed in 1987 in Sion.
Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn. Formed in 1983, the group was founded by then-bassist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek and guitarist Zbigniew "Vika" Wróblewski. Vader went through several lineup changes over the years, with Wiwczarek as the only constant member. Since 2011, the band has comprised Wiwczarek on guitars and vocals, guitarist Marek "Spider" Pająk, bassist Tomasz "Hal" Halicki, and drummer Michał Andrzejczyk.
Dark Funeral is a Swedish black metal band from Stockholm, founded by guitarists Blackmoon and Lord Ahriman in 1993. They emerged during the second wave of black metal.
Virgin Black is an Australian symphonic gothic and doom metal band. The band was signed to The End Records and Germany's Massacre Records, through which it released four albums and one EP. A fifth album, originally planned for release in 2006, was released independently in 2018. As of 2021, they are signed to Australian record label, Dark Escapes Music. Formed in 1995 in Adelaide, they have achieved international acclaim during their career, receiving praise from such magazines as Orkus, Metal Hammer, Legacy and The Village Voice.
Heaven Shall Burn are a German metal band from Saalfeld, formed in 1995. The band consists of vocalist Marcus Bischoff, guitarists Maik Weichert and Alexander Dietz, bassist Eric Bischoff and drummer Christian Bass. They are currently signed to Century Media. They have released eight studio albums, as well as a number of other records. One of their albums, Veto, entered the German album charts at number 2 in 2013, with their latest, Of Truth and Sacrifice, reaching number 1.
Between the Buried and Me, often abbreviated as BTBAM, is an American progressive metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in 2000, the band consists of Tommy Giles Rogers Jr., Paul Waggoner, Dustie Waring, Dan Briggs, and Blake Richardson (drums).
Deathspell Omega is a French black metal band formed in 1998 in Poitiers. Their lyrical content deals primarily with Satanism on a metaphysical level – as the band has stated that "all other interpretations of Satan are intellectually invalid" – and other various theological topics.
Krisiun is a Brazilian death metal band, founded by brothers Alex Camargo, Moyses Kolesne (guitars) and Max Kolesne (drums). Since its formation in 1990, the group recorded two demos, Evil Age in 1991 and Curse of the Evil One in 1992, and self-released an extended play (EP) titled Unmerciful Order in 1993. After signing with Dynamo Records, Krisiun released the debut full-length Black Force Domain in 1995, followed by Apocalyptic Revelation, in 1998. They signed with major label Century Media in 1999, releasing a further nine studio albums.
Lost Soul is a Polish technical death metal band established in 1990 in Wrocław. Lost Soul has released five studio albums, which have been highly acclaimed by both fans and journalists. The band's 2009 album, Immerse in Infinity, was promoted with the first video ever recorded by the band for the song "...If The Dead Can Speak".
Belphegor is an Austrian blackened death metal band from Salzburg. They originally formed in 1991 under the name Betrayer before changing their name in 1993, deriving their current name from the demon Belphegor.
Dies Irae was a Polish death metal band founded in 1992. Their early recordings were heavily inspired and influenced by Vader and Morbid Angel.
Impressions in Blood is the seventh studio album by Polish death metal band Vader. It was released on 23 August 2006 in Japan by Avalon Marquee with a bonus cover of "Raining Blood" by Slayer. In Poland, the album was released on 1 September 2006 via Mystic Production. The album was nominated for a Fryderyk Award in the category 'Rock/Metal Album of the Year '.
Veritas Diaboli Manet in Aeternum: Chaining the Katechon is a 22-minute EP containing a single song, recorded by the French black metal band Deathspell Omega. Chaining the Katechon was released through Norma Evangelium Diaboli on 8 December 2008. The title Veritas Diaboli Manet in Aeternum is a work of two French black metal bands—Deathspell Omega and S.V.E.S.T. —and can be understood as a variation on a same theme, independent yet complementary.
Eritis sicut Deus; Verbum Diaboli Manet in Aeternum; Vox Vespertilio Act I – Moon Var Dies Irae is the first demo by the Polish avant-garde black metal band Devilish Impressions. This is the first demo they released as a band after the band members joined forces in 2000. The musical arrangements were still of low quality and the vocals are barely hearable on this demo. But the band had a pretty good idea what they were doing and whereto they wanted to evolve as a band. Some of the elements used in this demo can be traced back in their following first and debut album Plurima Mortis Imago. Devilish Impressions is known for their lengthy songs, but the demo is known for having the most lengthy songs of all their work so far.
Plurima Mortis Imago is the debut album by the Polish avant-garde black metal band Devilish Impressions. The band was able to recruit Dragor to do the drums and Adrian Nefarious to play the bass guitar, both members of Luna Ad Noctum. The title is taken from the Latin poet Virgil, Aeneid 2.369.
Diabolicanos – Act III: Armageddon is the second album by the Polish avant-garde black metal band Devilish Impressions. After their full-length debut Plurima Mortis Imago was released, the band attracted significant interest from many record labels and choosing the most favourably looking offer at that time, signed with London-based Conquer Records.
Azarath is a Polish death metal band from Tczew, formed in 1998.
Fatum Aeternum is an Israeli rock and metal band, founded in 2006. The band went through major line-up changes during its first years, until the current line-up formed. Up to date, the band released 3 EPs, 1 full-length album and a Maxi-Single, including international collaborations and performances. The band shared the stage with bands like Waves under Water, Diary of Dreams and Apoptygma Berzerk.
