Seks w Czasach Wojny

"Sex in Times of War", a band from Poland, active since 2020.

Genre: (pop) punk rock; post-punk; alternative rock

As the name suggests, the theme of sex in the context of war often appears in culture analysing the psychological aspects of human sexuality and needs, even in the face of danger and hardship, reflecting survival and escape from reality or bonding in chaos.

SWCW manages to tackle the heavy subjects of alienation and dystopian romance relying on a hypnotic rhythm to carry the message. They pull inspiration from old horror films, paranormal TV series, Junji Ito's manga, PlayStation games and high school life.

The instrumentation relies on mechanical drum machine beats and chorus-drenched basslines, emphasizing the soulful, almost screaming vocals.

Songs that stood out to me:

"Lalka" - it is fast, full of angst, and (for me) is the musical equivalent of screaming into a pillow. Possibly referencing Bolesław Prus's novel "The Doll" (which is also the name of the song), the lyrics describe a toxic, one-sided relationship and the feeling of being used.

"Mgiełka" - feels like a melancholic drift through a gray morning. It leans into coldwave, but it is still catchy. The lyrics capture the emotional gap between two people when one is struggling and the other can only watch.

In my opinion they sound similar to "Siekiera", but as they state themselves: "For fans of: Where Are You, Scooby-Doo?, Scott Pilgrim, Buffy the Vampire Slayer".