{"id":55170,"date":"2017-07-22T19:52:32","date_gmt":"2017-07-23T00:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=55170"},"modified":"2017-07-22T19:52:32","modified_gmt":"2017-07-23T00:52:32","slug":"ceti-lamiastrata-25th-anniversary-reissue-music-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2017\/ceti-lamiastrata-25th-anniversary-reissue-music-review\/","title":{"rendered":"CETI | Lamiastrata (25th anniversary reissue)"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Alexandra Mrozowska<\/span>
\n– Sr. Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"In general, the music industry in the early 1990s was dominated by the grunge invasion. Somewhat ironically, in Poland, the same period was marked by the emergence of a considerable number of new Hard Rock acts such as Fatum, Non Iron, Lessdress, IRA, Hetman, Syndia or Shout, who modeled themselves after the American 1980s Rock scene. However, most of them didn\u2019t go further than one or two albums and only a few continued their venture into the 1990s and 2000s. One of the exceptions to the overall rule was CETI, founded in 1989 by the two classically trained musicians: Maria \u2018Marihuana\u2019 Wietrzykowska (keyboards, background vocals) and Grzegorz Kupczyk (vocals). <\/p>\n

From the very start, there was more to this band than just reproducing the style of their American counterparts. CETI skillfully combined massive keyboard themes and Classical influences with the old school of leather-clad Metal showmanship, personified by the lead singer Grzegorz Kupczyk and solidified by his experience in Metal pioneer act Turbo and Hard Rock supergroup Non Iron. It was particularly well reflected on their first two albums \u2013 Czarna Roza<\/em> (1989) and Lamiastrata<\/em> (1992). 2017 marks a 25th anniversary of the latter, initially released only on audio cassette and reissued on CD in 2004. A quarter of a century after Lamiastrata<\/em> saw the light of day, it was reissued again via Szataniec Records and complemented with a new artwork by Piotr Szafraniec. <\/p>\n

Lamiastrata<\/em> was the first CETI album to feature an intro, a standard followed by their future releases such as Shadow Of The Angel<\/em> (2003) or (\u2026) perfecto mundo (\u2026)<\/em> (2007). The choice of the initial fanfare of \u201cAlso Sprach Zarathustra,\u201d composed by Richard Strauss, not only reveals the band\u2019s Classical inclinations. It also hints at their moniker (an abbreviation from Communication With Extraterrestrial Intelligence) by its obvious reference to Kubrick\u2019s 2001: A Space Odyssey<\/em>. The majestic opening piece corresponds with further parts of the album, the grandiose aura to the oneiric, erotic title track Lamiastrata<\/em> as well as the stylistic complexity of the two-part lengthy suite Satan\u2019s Cavalry Part III: The Final Countdown\/Twilight<\/em>. The latter \u2013 an ominous vision of the aftermath of apocalypse \u2013 is simultaneously a third and final part of Satan\u2019s Cavalry I<\/em> and II<\/em>, written by Grzegorz Kupczyk for 1986 Turbo album Kawaleria Szatana<\/em>. <\/p>\n

The aura of grandeur and fantasy is present elsewhere on the album as well, in majestic keyboard passages (\u201cThe Priests Of Lie,\u201d \u201cHot Body And Hair\u201d) and soaring melodies (\u201cBurning Fantasy\u201d or \u201cKamikaze \u201845\u201d with its onomatopoeic depiction of a plane crash). But Lamiastrata<\/em> can also speed up to the point of instrumental frenzy, solidified by Kupczyk\u2019s strong, high pitched vocals. It starts with the pulsating groove of the first track \u201cHarley\u2019s Soul\u201d only to rocket towards the breakneck speed of Mot\u00f6rhead-tinted \u201cArtificial Breathing\u201d \u2013 initially a Turbo song, released in 1986 under its Polish title \u201cSztuczne Oddychanie.\u201d<\/p>\n

In contrast, there\u2019s only one \u201cproper\u201d ballad on the album. Entitled simply \u201cThe Song,\u201d it drops the undertones of \u201cHarley\u2019s Soul\u201d machoism and oneiric vision of out-of-this-world eroticism introduced in \u201cLamiastrata\u201d in favor of far more conventional romanticism. Musically, it builds up from mellow verses towards a fiery crescendo, complemented by Kupczyk\u2019s sensual, Coverdale-esque vocal performance \u2013 still one of the best he\u2019s ever delivered.<\/p>\n

2017 reissue of Lamiastrata<\/em> also includes two bonus tracks \u2013 live versions of \u201cLamiastrata\u201d (with its original Polish lyrics) and \u201cBurning Fantasy\u201d recorded around 1992\/1993 during the band\u2019s concerts in Poland and Germany.<\/p>\n

Since its release in 1992, Lamiastrata<\/em> remains a cult classic and perhaps the most important record CETI has ever released \u2013 not without a reason. In personal terms, it\u2019s their first full-length studio album to feature a drummer Marcin \u201cMucek\u201d Krystek who remained with the band ever since. In terms of music, the group\u2019s sophomore effort developed some of the ideas already touched upon on their debut album and solidified their overall style while not being drastically different from its predecessor. Overall, it can be said that Lamiastrata<\/em> stood the test of time and still remains a rare gem worth discovering \u2013 especially that the band who recorded it quarter a century ago is still alive and well.<\/p>\n

(Editor\u2019s notes: the 1992 cassette version of Lamiastrata<\/em> featured a different song order. \u201cLamiastrata,\u201d \u201cFire Angels,\u201d \u201cKamikaze \u201945,\u201d \u201cArtificial Breathing\u201d and \u201cThe Song\u201d were included in their original Polish language versions. The final instrumental recording \u201cGreensleeves\u201d was not included on the 2004 CD reissue, which featured the same tracklist as the 2017 reissue with the addition of two bonus tracks \u2013 the Polish versions of \u201cThe Song\u201d and \u201cArtificial Breathing.\u201d 2017 reissue is available in limited edition of 500 copies only). <\/p>\n

Genre: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal<\/p>\n

Band:
\nGrzegorz Kupczyk \u2013 vocals
\nMaria \u201cMarihuana\u201d Wietrzykowska \u2013 keyboards
\nAndrzej \u201cLysy\u201d Lysow \u2013 guitars
\nMaciej Przybylski \u2013 bass guitar
\nMarcin \u201cMucek\u201d Krystek \u2013 drums <\/p>\n

Track List:
\n1.\tIntro (\u201cAlso Sprach Zarathustra\u201d)
\n2.\tHarley\u2019s Soul
\n3.\tLamiastrata
\n4.\tBurning Fantasy
\n5.\tThe Priests Of Lie
\n6.\tSatan\u2019s Cavalry Part III:
\nA.\tThe Final Countdown
\nB.\tTwilight
\n7.\tArtificial Breathing
\n8.\tHot Body And Hair
\n9.\tKamikaze \u201845
\n10.\tThe Song
\n11.\tLamiastrata (live bonus track)
\n12.\tBurning Fantasy (live bonus track)<\/p>\n

Label: Szataniec Records<\/p>\n

Website: ceti-gk.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: [usr 9.5 size=20]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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