Mysthicon - 2025 - Biesn

(42:58; Mysthicon)

Track list:
1. Shapes 6:47
2. Unbearable Silence 7:38
3. We Are The Worms 6:41
4. Na Naszej Krwi 6:55
5. The Storyteller 7:33
6. Creation 7:24

Line-up:
Adrian Miesowicz - vocals 
Andrzej Czujko - drums
Grzegorz Kaplon - guitars
Szymon Hadala - guitars
Mateusz Zawada - bass
Tharthaq - keyboards
with:
Jacek Glod - guitars
Marcin Chatys - bass
Wojciech Miller - hurdy-gurdy


Prolusion.
Polish band Mysthicon has been around for a decade and a bit at this point, releasing their first initial EP back in 2019 with their debut album appearing the following year. In the fall of 2025 they were ready with their second studio production "Biesn", which was self released by the band.

Analysis.
This production is among the many I encounter that explore the extreme metal tradition in a more expressive and creative manner, thus creating an experience that will have its appeal also among fans of progressive metal. Some might state that this is an album they would sort under the extreme progressive metal tag too I suspect. That being said, this isn't a band that on this production explores all that many sentiments one will typically associate with the more common aspects of the progressive metal tradition as such.

All of the songs here will open and conclude with one kind of atmospheric laden landscape or another, and typically they will be more careful excursions that to my mind are cinematic in nature more often than not. And in between those opening and concluding sequences we get a fair and liberal amount of variation.

Some of the compositions will feature a soft keyboard presence, usually a bit cold and chill, acting as a subtle contrast to the darker toned guitars that will display a dark tone in general that is either more warm and mooth in sound or execution or more hard and primal in nature. Both sets of expressions serve as an efficient contrast to the keyboard parts in the songs where those are present. 

The compositions will typically also alternate between a few different modes and moods. With extreme metal as a key component we will obviously get our fair share of harsh, twisted and distorted lead vocals, but on occasion a few different varieties of clean and melodic vocals are a bit of a presence too. We also get hard, at times hectic and high paced varieties of a more primal sounding variety of metal along the way, alongside slower paced, more atmospheric laden and melody oriented parts. In many of the songs we also get interludes of a different nature altogether, where acoustic instruments and sounds lead the way in arrangements that are distinctly careful, open and at times frail and delicate to boot. With an array of changes and alterations in tempo and intensity, obviously, many of which are executed in a satisfying, smooth manner. In some cases you'll need to actively listen to the music to keep track of these, especially the more subtle ones.

With a mix and production that fits the different dynamics this band explore, this is an interesting and fascinating listen. At least in my book.

Conclusion.
If you have an interest in an extreme metal band that steps back and forth into the atmospheric laden metal realm, as well as expanding upon this blend by exploring  more art-inspired interludes and additions to create a more dynamic and expressive landscape, then this is a production you might want to seek out. A strong and solid production all the way through.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, May 2026

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Mysthicon/