A-Z: Closterkeller

"Who?", I can here you ask. I know of about five people that have actually heard of this band. I believe they're a major act in their native Poland, but little known in the wider world, largely because they sing entirely in Polish.

A few years back, my brother was working as an English teacher in Poland, and he asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I replies "what about some Polish prog-rock?". Eastern Europe was (and still is) in something of a musical time-warp, where bands like Uriah Heep are still big. Since I don't really care for much of the current British scene, dominated too much by boring and tuneless indie bands, I wondered if Poland could come up with something more interesting.

Since all my brother had to go on in choosing something was the cover artwork, what I actually got on Christmas afternoon was Closterkeller's "Cyan".

Closterkeller turned out to be goth-metal rather than prog-rock. However, when the opening guitar riff of Wladza led into Anja Orthodox's powerful yet beautiful vocals, I was impressed by the album. It varied from some very punky songs though 80s-style commercial metal mixed with atmospheric gothy stuff. All sung in Polish.

Since I'm one of those people who's more into the music than the lyrics, I don't find non-English lyrics a turn-off. Indeed, the sounds of Polish seem to fit the music well, and I'm sure it sounds better than English in a comical accent (have you heard any Lacuna Coil?)

Closterkeller's albums aren't easy to find in Britain. I found Amazon listing just one, their latest album "Nero" (which I have on order). It's possible some specialist importers might stock others.

Posted by TimHall at June 06, 2004 04:51 PM | TrackBack

Comments

Heh, actually Closterkeller seems to be rather an underground band (even in Poland). It's almost impossible to see them on TV, since Anja O. is a kind of anti-catholical symbol.

I attended their concert a week ago and was delighted with their performance. The entrance fee costed only ca. 2$, but very few people came to see the concert.

About singing in Polish - Closterkeller usually records English versions of their cd's, but Anja's accent and pronunciation are simply terrible... that's why it's better to listen to them in their native language :P

Posted by: HomogenicNoir on October 31, 2004 11:22 AM

Closterkeller and many more underground Female vocalist Gothic Rock/Metal can be found in one website / store and ship worldwide.

Posted by: John W. on February 5, 2005 06:56 PM

Closterkeller to najwspanialszy zespol na swiecie, ciesze sie ze wy tez go zacie, polecam szczerze pposluchania ich dokonan w koncu juz spiewaja w jezyku angielskim.

www.anja.pl - Closterkellers website (there is english wersion)

http://akashaaa.eblog.pl/glowna.php - my blog

Posted by: Siosta (Poland) on February 20, 2005 03:53 PM


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