Save Me

My first exposure to this Polish monstrosity was the woefully terrible "Satanic Pop Metal", and since then I'd only occasionally checked them out to see if they would ever bring about a return to form or continue on the same blithering path to musical self-annihilation. Curiosity if nothing else; it wouldn't have surprised me to see a "Satanic..." Part Two: Electric Boogaloo come at us given how much attention their change-up from sword-toting violence to lesbianic titillation warranted them, and if that were the case then the good night was waiting should that occur. And what the listening public got instead was not that, but something else altogether...

And I had to dive in. Why not?

I...didn't expect this. No fuckin' way was I expecting this. To call Semargl's shift from black metal to disco-influenced trance pop "ballsy" would be a titanic understatement. Were this to have happened back 15 or so years ago these kurwas would have been persona non grata at the metallic blasphemers' Grown Up Table and would have had to change their name at friggin' mace-point...but even then, I wonder if they'd do it. Nevertheless, releasing "Save Me" under the Semargl moniker smacks of brass ones the size of the moon. But the worst part of all this? It's not that bad. I mean, to be fair I was going in with feet-level expectations, so it didn't matter what they did from here on out, I wasn't gonna be on board. But what I didn't foresee was how competent these former corpsepainters would appear to be doing the disco/pop thing. This song is catchy to the point of infection; the chorus alone outdoes Babymetal in the earworm department and will stick to you like cold peanut butter. Sound-wise, there's a little metal in there, what with the undermixed distorted guitars buried beneath a devil's lasagna of synth and keyboard lines and Ms Adele Ri's sultry, J-pop-like singing, combining in a way I'd find more befitting an anime film. Beyond that, though, there's nothing heavy about this; just a simple, dense song to blare in the dance club and get the hips a'groovin'.

The kind of tune that slides right in under your skin and finds its way into your bloodstream, which is per usual with any good pop song. You leave a listening session with it echoing in your head to the point where you find yourself walking to the beat so nicely you're almost strutting. It happened with Michael Jackson, it happened with Lady Gaga, and it certainly happened here. It's not metal by any stretch save for the minor guitar licks, but I don't think that's the point anymore. It's clear, at least with regards to "Save Me", that this is the kind of thing the Semargl fellas really want to do; they want to craft memorable, hooky and damn-near irresistible pop tunes versus mindless chaos rehashed for the ten thousandth time. And believe me, what I'd heard with this alone is far more indelible than any Hell's Headbangers chart toppers. It just goes to show...

All in all this really surprised me. It's not spectacular, but compared to "Satanic Pop Metal" this was much more well thought out and focused. Weekend Satanists, 'tis best to look away, for you'll only leave utterly confused and angry. But those looking for a good time under flashing neon lights will find much to enjoy with this.