Mariusz Duda of Riverside released the first ‘Lunatic Soul’ album in 2008, and over the years this remarkable solo project has grown in range, stature and quality. The World Under Unsun is the final instalment in his series of albums focused on the balance between Life and Death. In an interview with TPA in 2020 Mariusz Duda explained:
“I created something called ‘The Circle of Life and Death’. This is the story of dying and reviving. There are albums on the side of Life and there are albums on the side of Death… On the side of Death we mostly have organic instruments and on the side of Life we have electronic sounds.”
Fittingly for this concluding release The World Under Unsun is somewhere between those two poles, incorporating an intoxicating mixture of organic acoustic instrumentation with complimentary electronic rhythms and tones. Whilst this may be the final chapter in this musical story in terms of release date, in terms of the narrative timeline for ‘The Circle of Life and Death‘, this edition falls after the electronically pulsing Fractured album and before the glacially stark and dark Walking on a Flashlight Beam.
The emphasis on this album is most definitely on grooves, rhythms and textures. Indeed, Mariusz Duda has shared that when he was preparing for this album he wanted to focus on his strengths as a song writer which he identified as the ability to write engaging melodies, create ‘catchy riffs’ (most definitely!), and his ability to ‘build atmospheric and spacious musical stories.’ All these elements are gloriously in abundance on this double album of 90 minutes of high-quality music.
The album commences with the entrancing title track, signifying a solar eclipse, ushered in with a pulsing strum and organically ‘flutey’ notes, fusing electronic and human elements as the piece gradually builds in intensity. Loop of Fate is hypnotically percussive and multi-layered, including chiming guitars and whispered chants – it does feel like we are being drawn into some sort of forest ritual deep in the woods. Mariusz lightens the atmosphere with the wistful cello and delicate harp sounds underlaying his beautifully crystalline vocals on the madrigal-like Good Memories Don’t Want to Die, which is a beguiling and poetic notion, laid out with such sensitivity on this shimmering diamond of a song. This diverse album goes in a different direction with the chugging, spiky riffs of Monsters which marches relentlessly on, lightened slightly by mid-song female vocalisations. As the Monsters roll onwards Mateusz Owczarek embroiders the final section with a restrained guitar solo. We leave these dark shadows and enter the echoing, hymnal like chamber of The Prophecy, in which Duda sings with a remarkable falsetto voice.
Lunatic Soul stretch their boundaries with lengthier songs which act as centrepieces in this elaborate sonic construction. Mind Obscured, Heart Eclipsed emerges from the mists of an ambient synth drone and then adopts an entrancing rhythm which is very similar to the magnificent highlight Summoning Dance from the previous album Through Shaded Woods. In his interview with TPA in 2020 Mariusz laid out his approach and influences:
Right from the beginning I was inspired by bands like Dead Can Dance, early Mike Oldfield albums, ‘Passion’ by Peter Gabriel and Clannad. So everywhere there is this folk background. I wanted to focus more on my own folk backgrounds which are more Slavic or Slavonic. Lunatic Soul was formed mostly because of the influence of those artists. I always wanted to play that kind of music… I just wanted to finally do something which has this Folk flavour from the beginning to the end, especially as it was connected with the forest.
The Slavic influences really come out in Mind Obscured, Heart Eclipsed, which veers away from the template of Summoning Dance with a gruff, animalistic riff, and then takes a far more melancholic turn with a mournful saxophone from Marcin Odyniec. Torn in Two ends the first CD with a dignified, uplifting vocal and piano with additional lush orchestration. It is a touching end to the first part of the album.
Hands Made of Lead is the impactful extended opener to CD 2, starting with a forlorn spoken intro over a drone background – bleak, desolate synths are joined by a rolling piano as the tempo increases. This is perhaps the only song on the album one could imagine Riverside playing as a crunching riff then drives this piece on. A writhing discordant saxophone from Marcin Odyniec underlines the driven, insistent and desperate feel. The lengthy and remarkable Game Called Love progresses with tribal drums, monastic chants and troubadour sounding mandolin tones. This twisting piece transitions via delicate piano notes into a Tangerine Dream- style synth rhythm, and chanted vocals. The stark, monastic theme returns briefly with the sound of a mandolin and piano, before a pulsing, spluttering synth wave and choral vocalisations takes this song home on a hypnotic groove. Duda’s gorgeous bass notes kicks off the introspective Confession, with jangling guitars underpinning Mariusz’s yearning vocals.
Parallels (nothing to do with the Yes song of the same name!) is a completely different sonic environment with metallic, echoing and sparse sounds creating a musical world of light and dark, presumably symbolising Life and Death. The gently chiming guitar sheds light in dark discordant places. This remarkable album rolls inexorably forward with another lengthy centrepiece composition with the dark, insistent and fractured Self in Distorted Glass, borne on a wave of tribal, percussive rhythms. Duda’s great skills with the bass comes to the fore as it often plays a leading role in the instrumentation as it undulates and writhes with energy, under echoey, whispered desperate vocals. The tempo and tension build onwards and then recedes in a gentle tide of delicate piano and xylophone sounds… and the sound of waves on a shore. As the music fades the waves grow stronger. It’s a beautiful way to finish a stunning piece. Only the touching coda of The New End is left. There is a sacred, hymnal tone to this piece as Duda’s emotive and finely judged vocals float over a flowing piano and soothes our soul. A truly wonderful way to conclude a wonderful album.
The World Under Unsun is grand in scale and ambition with a wide-ranging musical palette. Mariusz Duda has created a remarkably cohesive musical narrative full of high-quality song writing, impressive musicianship and emotional integrity. The synthesis of organic folk influences with more electronic or rock influences is seamless and the whole album flows smoothly and naturally. It will be fascinating to see where Mariusz Duda chooses to take his Lunatic Soul project next.
The World Under Unsun is a truly impressive conclusion to Lunatic Soul’s ‘Circle of Life and Death’ and if there’s any justice it should be regarded as simply one of the best albums of 2025.
TRACK LISTING
CD 1:
01. The World Under Unsun (6:58)
02. Loop of Fate (6:19)
03. Good Memories Don’t Want to Die (4:45)
04. Monsters (5:51)
05. The Prophecy (6:42)
06. Mind Obscured, Heart Eclipsed (11:42)
07. Torn in Two (3:55)
Time – 44:46
CD 2:
01. Hands Made of Lead (8:04)
02. Ardour (4:26)
03. Game Called Life (9:41)
04. Confession (4:26)
05. Parallels (3:17)
06. Self in Distorted Glass (10:25)
07. The New End (4:29)
Time – 44:50
Total Time – 89:36
MUSICIANS
Mariusz Duda – Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Piccolo Bass, Percussion
~ With:
Wawrzyniec Dramowicz – Drums (CD 1: 1,2,4 & 5) | (CD 2: 1,2,4 & 6)
Marcin Odyniec – Saxophone (CD 1: 2 & 6) | (CD 2: 1)
Mateusz Owczarek – Guitar Solo (CD 1: 4), Soundscapes (CD 2: 5)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: InsideOut Music
Country of Origin: Poland
Date of Release: 31st October 2025
DISCOGRAPHY
– Lunatic Soul (2008)
– Lunatic Soul II (2010)
– Impressions (2011)
– Walking On A Flashlight Beam (2014)
– Fractured (2017)
– Under A Fragmented Sky (2018)
– Through Shaded Woods (2020)
– The World Under Unsun (2025)
LINKS
Lunatic Soul – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | X | Instagram
