03. Slavic souls on the Polish music scene

          Two headed monster existing under the surface of mainstream music in Poland, that’s how I’d call a project initiated by three great musicians: Kornelia Rybacka, Michał Rybacki and Katarzyna Bromirska. They started in 1999 in Lubin forming Percival Schuttenbach and after some changes within a band, the project enlarged in 2004 when it was divided into Percival Schuttenbach and Percival. What’s the difference? The first one is reserved for folk pagan metal. The second one is the result of passion for history of Slavic and Nordic culture. In other words, it revolves around medieval pagan folk music; however, in fact it’s preeminently focused on central, eastern and southern Slavs. Current legendary members are Michał Rybacki, Katarzyna Bromirska, Joanna Lacher and Christina Bogdanova who, as a band, are best known abroad for co-creating a remarkable soundtrack for the Witcher 3 Wild Hunt based on their old and new records and mixed with Marcin Przybyłowicz’s orchestral style. Percival Schuttenbach is powerful, dynamic and playful, but as Percival these musicians achieved something I find more special: uniqueness. Recorded at Michał’s home, their high quality music compositions are somehow for me way ahead of other pagan music projects I’ve heard so far. There’s something vivid, monumental and, as I mentioned earlier, unique in Percival’s discography. When you hear one of their songs, you start to think “Sounds like Percival”. This music is crude thanks to its pagan Slavic roots; however, there are also some subtle tracks (Oczy Wiedźmina). Percival’s music is played on instruments like flute, long-neckled lute, bodhran and davul (type of drums) and hand made byzantine lyra (Michał's work). They assist powerful female vocals. Now some trivia: Name of the band refers to a character created by Andrzej Sapkowski for his most successful series of novels called the Witcher, the gnome Percival Schuttenbach. What is more, the band took part in Poland's Got Talent. Unfortunately, it wasn't a turning point in their career. 

          These musicians might never be in the spotlight of mainstream Medias. Nevertheless, their project is recognized and admired by more and more listeners from Europe and the western world due to the success of the newest Witcher game and its magnificent soundtrack. In my opinion, they do merit it. 
          Here are some of their songs.

SARGON

OJ DIDO

PASLA