***Another article from two years ago, but it still applies as these guys are going strong and doing their thing!***
Photo by In a House of Brick
The city of Rzeszow, Poland is not know for noise or intimidation. Traffic is closed on most of its cobble-stone streets, and crowds can only be found in open-air markets staffed by local villagers. A music festival this summer promoted the usual acts: polka bands, rock groups, and a singer or two. But this relative civility was quickly interrupted by booming amplifiers and screams from one of the stages. In a House of Brick had started playing.
Fans call them “Iahob,” and the band represents an emerging scene inspired by musical trendsetters in the United States. Hardcore, a punishing combination of metal and punk, had blown up in the US, mostly among young urbanites. Yet its inspirations are clearly heard in this eastern enclave, far from its tumultuous birthplace on the East Coast. On a dusty field in Rzeszow Poles are throwing their fists in a circle pit, running to the rhythm of frantic drum beats and guitar breakdowns.
But to call them copycats would be a disservice. After the show band front-man, called “Kwieca” by fans, discussed Iahob over a few beers, as per Polish tradition. “We don’t like to categorize ourselves, be like someone else,” Kwieca said, “of course there are inspirations. But this movement is our own.” Kwieca performs bass and vocals in the band. His screams stem straight from the traditional hardcore vein, greatly confusing random bystanders. The song structures, riffs, and percussion paint a much more diversified picture, with everything from rock to reggae being touched on.
Iahob would not stand a chance under Poland’s rigid communist system, but since the fall of the Iron Curtain a burgeoning metal scene had emerged. Death metal was Poland’s first major export, with heavy bands like Vader and Decapitated touring Europe and the US. But until very recently, hardcore had been missing.
“There are magazines here now, shows, new venues, everything is possible. We’ve even been on tour, in Poland, something unimaginable before,” said Kwiecia. The band hopes to make it big and land a record deal. They have almost the same resources as western bands: good gear, recordings, t-shirts, and even a Myspace page. Songs are in English, though the average listener might not notice.
“Who knows, maybe one day you guys will be listening to us over there,” smiled Kwiecia.
http://www.myspace.com/iahob
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