When we talk about the history of death metal, Poland is basically hallowed ground. The scene there has consistently produced some of the most technically proficient, atmospherically dark, and relentlessly brutal music the genre has ever seen. But for every giant that conquered the globe, there are shadows in the underground, bands that created something legendary and then vanished into the ether. Kingdom Of The Lie is one of those shadows, and with the long-awaited reissue of their sole album, About The Rising Star, the light is finally shining on a true lost classic. Thanks to the folks at Moans Music, we are hearing a revitalized beast that perfectly pairs some of the best of the early ’90s canon. If you consider yourself an old-school death metal fan, this record is going to feel like finding a missing page in a holy text. Kingdom Of The Lie was active during that golden era between 1990 and 1993, and you can hear every ounce of that specific zeitgeist in this recording. But here’s the kicker, this doesn’t sound dated. Thanks to a phenomenal new master created from the original tracks, the sound is massive, clear, and punishing. It retains that grimy, authentic analog soul of the early ’90s but punches with the weight, groove, and clarity of a modern production. It’s a sonic time capsule that has been polished just enough to reveal the chrome and spikes underneath the rust.
It’s a pure and simple death metal record, but with that specific brutal edge that the Polish scene would become famous for. It’s technical without being overly showy, atmospheric without losing its aggression, and heavy enough to crack concrete. The album possesses that unique quality of being a historical document and a living piece of music that demands to be played at maximum volume today. The guitars shape a perfect, rough backdrop for the rest of the chaos to unfold. We are treated to a comprehensive collection of riffs that range from tremolo-picked speed runs to crushing, palm-muted chugs that hit you right in the chest. The tone is thick, razor-sharp, and dripping with menace, but the lead work also elevates this record to new heights. The solos are technical, fluid, and perfectly placed. They slice through the dense rhythm section with sheer clarity, adding a layer of virtuosity that hints at the high caliber of musicianship involved in this project. The interplay between the rhythm and lead guitars creates a dense, aggressive, and strangely hypnotic atmosphere. The vocals steer the wheel on this dark journey, guiding the listener through the labyrinth of riffs with a guttural command. The delivery is deep, aggressive, and fierce, perfectly matching the intensity of the instrumentation. It’s that classic death metal growl, legible enough to convey the menace, but distorted enough to sound like it’s coming from a creature rather than a human.
In the engine room, the rhythm section is working overtime to keep this beast on the rails. The bass guitar is a standout element here. In the early nineties death metal music, the bass tends to get buried in the mud, but on this reissue, the basslines are vividly hearable. The bass contributes significantly to the warmth, depth, and groove of the album. It creates a thick, rumbling undercurrent, giving the guitars their massive size. It serves as the essential glue, locking in with the drums to provide a technically complex and groovy foundation. You can feel the vibration of the strings adding that necessary clank and low-end weight that true death metal fans crave. The drumming performance on About The Rising Star is marvelous, acting as the dynamic heart of the record. This isn’t just a barrage of blast beats, but a performance packed with variation. The drummer navigates the tempo changes with ease, shifting from breakneck speed to crushing, mid-tempo stomps that allow the groove to breathe. The fills are energetic and precise, filled with marvelous accentuations that highlight the guitar riffs and vocal patterns. The double-bass work is relentless, providing a rolling thunder backdrop that keeps the energy level pinned in the red. It’s a performance that balances brutality with finesse, proving that the band understood the importance of dynamics even in the most extreme music.
Beyond the music itself, the package looks to be a fitting tribute to the legacy. The new artwork, based on the original vision but updated, perfectly captures the dark, enigmatic vibe of the music. It feels like a complete piece of art, a resurrection of a vision that was interrupted. About The Rising Star is a restoration of justice for a band that clearly had the chops to be legends. It’s a relentless, heavy, and technically impressive slab of brutal death metal that encompasses everything great about the Polish scene in the early ’90s. The production update has done wonders, allowing the intricate songwriting and ferocious performances to shine with a brilliance that was likely hidden in the original tapes. This is a must-have album for all true fans of old-school death metal, Polish metal history, or just extreme music played with passion and skill. Kingdom Of The Lie might have been gone for decades, but with this LP, they sound more alive than ever. Do not sleep on this. It’s a legendary album for a reason.
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