Dark Side – W Matni Review: Melodic Death Metal from Poland (2026)

 

Dark Side – W Matni album cover, melodic death metal Poland 2026



Artist: Dark Side
Origin: Gniew, Pomerania, Poland
Label: Independent
Released: July 10, 2026
Genre: Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore
Rating: 9/10
Listen/Buy: Bandcamp

Dark Side – W matni is actually an album I should have reviewed last weeked, but it is holiday season, and I do allow myself a few days off now and then. So the reviews are not coming as often right now, but they are not forgotten.

This album starts insanely good with “Sadysta”, and it hits me right in the face. Anyone who reads the blog knows that I love melodic death metal, and when you throw breakdowns into the mix as well, then I am pretty much sold.

This is dark, aggressive and melodic , that really works for me. The riffs hit hard, the guitar solos lift the songs, and the breakdowns give the album the extra weight. The drums are seriously on point, with great blastbeats, technical precision and a drive that keeps the album alive all the way through.

And then there is the vocal , it is so good, like really really good.I do not understand Polish, so I am not gonna sit here and pretend that I understand everything lyrically, but the vocal still works incredibly well. For me, it almost becomes another instrument, giving the songs exactly the dark and desperate feeling they need.

There is something here that reminds me a little of old In Flames, and that is never a bad thing for me. Not necessarily because it sounds the same all the way through, but because it carries that same feeling of melody, darkness and aggression that hits right in the melodic death metal heart.

Some standout tracks for me are “Sadysta”, “Osaczony” and “Zaraza”. “Osaczony” especially hits hard. The middle section and the part towards the end give me this feeling of longing and darkness, before the breakdown comes in. Fantastic section.

If you try to translate the song titles, it seems like the album circles around some pretty dark themes: being trapped, pressured, depressed and facing human cruelty. That feeling comes through very clearly in the music.

For me, W matni is a very strong album. It is short, intense and hits exactly where I want melodic death metal to hit. This one actually goes into my top 10 albums of the year so far.

You do not always need to understand the words to feel the music. W matni is that kind of album.

Rating: 9/10

I'll be spinning more albums — stay tuned!

Hauk

If you enjoyed this, check out:
Sigyn – From Nation to Chaos Review
Entropist – The Vision Review
Fires in the Distance – Circadian Promise Review
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