Gedz – ‘Anatema’. Was the three-year wait worth it?

1193 days count to 3 years, 3 months and 6 days – this is the time gap between the newest album and the previous one, ‘Stamina’. Longing fans can finally listen to the new Gedz’s album. But are they satisfied? Let’s take a look at ‘Anatema’ released by NNJL label.

In 2020 Gedz released an album called ‘Stamina’. It was a second part of a trilogy. It was calmer, more tuneful than a first part – ‘Bohema’. The album was warmly welcomed, however, many fans preferred harder sounds. For the last part of the trilogy, Gedz took the risk and prepared an album that breaks away the mainstream.

‘I think the album will “speak” for me. It will get to whomever it is intended for, and anyone who will talk negatively about it will probably have their reasons, too. It is definitely a bit of opposition to the mainstream as well, because I have always walked my own way – Gedz announced his new album with these words in Przegląd Sportowy – a sports newspaper and online service.

It has been 6 months since the release of the album, so we can check whether people liked it or not. What is the best determinant of success, is a first place on the OLiS list – a weekly hit chart of 100 most popular albums in Poland. This is a huge success for Gedz – the highest he got on the list before, was a third place with ‘Bohema’. Despite the rapper saying he wasn’t targeting the mainstream, his new album was noticed not only by the greatest fans.

Gedz – ‘Anatema’ – lyrics

The album may be considered a success not only because of number of sold copies, but also lyrics quality. Most opinions are very positive. Listeners value the album for the lyrics that reflect today’s reality, social issues affecting us all. They reach the listener’s mind, evoking strong emotions. They are also full of various references that only the most attentive listeners will catch. This is an important element that can identify a good text writer – Gedz does really well here. In terms of lyrics, this album is a good one. I’ve seen some complaints about some lines being childish, but after reviewing them, I don’t see them as a problem that would diminish the listening experience.

Nonsens – Gedz Anatema

Album’s atmosphere

Another element of ‘Anatema’ that was liked in our office and by the audiences, is a dark, depressive atmosphere created by Gedz. It was designed by the lyrics and melodies that may take listeners to a world of sadness and problems. The skits are worth mentioning – ‘Miernik szczęścia‘ and ‘Port teleportacyjny‘. They are well-connected with other tracks, and add some dystopian touch.

Visual aspect

The visual aspect of the album was rated positively. Gedz entered a new level of music videos, creating them with an Unreal Engine 5 technology. What is that? Videos show animated characters that look very real. Thanks to this technology, we could see Gedz standing in flames or other situations impossible to happen in real life. This is spectacular and adds unique atmosphere.

The ‘Anatema’s’ message

Listeners value the message of the album as well.  ‘Anatema’ comments on current social situation. Gedz criticizes the actions of politicians not caring about the lives of citizens, the poor state of the Catholic Church in Poland, changing values, and touches on many other important social topics. Jakub Gendźwiłł is a sharp observer of the reality. His observations can be thought-provoking. This is especially visible when he touches on social issues that are often discussed publicly, but he talks about them from a different perspective, sometimes touching on non-obvious aspects of a certain issue.

‘Anatema’ is valued for songs in which Gedz talks openly about his life, the problems he struggles with, and what hurts him. One may get the impression that in songs like  ‘Nie wiem‘, ‘Roger Moore‘ or ‘Błękitna krew‘  the artist tries to confront his demons. They are really deep – Gedz reflects on his psyche and history as if he was sitting on a psychologist’s couch. Gedz comes to various conclusions, often self-critical, showing his maturity as a man and an artist. Some moments tug at one’s heart and send shivers down one’s spine.

Alles Klar – Gedz Anatema

Gedz – ‘Anatema’ – is it worth listening

‘Anatema’ is a successful project, as shown by the album’s good sales and positive feedback from listeners. Most see it as a good ending to the trilogy. Gedz’s hard work answers the title question — yes, it was worth waiting three years. According to many fans, if the next album maintains the level of ‘Anatema’, it will be worth waiting another three years.

Gedz – ‘Anatema’ – tracklist

1. INTROSAPIENS
2. ALLES KLAR
3. MIZANTROP (Ft. Miszel)
4. SLOW MO
5. MIERNIK SZCZĘŚCIA (skit)
6. BŁĘKITNA KREW
7. A8 FREESTYLE
8. GŁUPIE POMYSŁY (Ft. Quebonafide)
9. PORT TELEPORTACYJNY (skit)
10. KNOW HOW
11. UNDO
12. NONSENS (Ft. Kosa [POL])
13. NIE WIEM
14. ROGER MOORE
15. ABONAMENT
16. AMON

The article was written by Paweł Skarzyński

Translation: Natalia Walentyńska

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