Closterkeller - Cyan

Another first encounter for me, Cyan is the phenomenal 1996 album by Closterkeller, perhaps the oldest Polish goth metal group, having formed in 1988. The band has much notoriety in Poland, but for whatever reason this has seems not to have translated outside the country. Perhaps this is due to its Polish lyrics, though three of its seven full-lengths are available in English versions.

Personally, I love hearing native tongues, as they always feel more sincere than transliteration. Anja Orthodox is the band’s linchpin, and her vocals are powerful and dynamic. Evidently, the band’s output has been likewise versatile, having explored pop and electronic realms.

Cyan sticks with metal and keeps keyboards to a minimum. The guitar work is rich, with lovely clean tones, and the production is refreshingly dry. In an age of terrible overcompression, the natural-sounding mastering is startling. Older albums really did sound better! Perhaps this one has too many songs, but it’s a pleasure to hear. It’s also very hard to find, but is so worth the effort.