Contemporary grunge group Bagdad makes a compelling debut with “Valley of Dry Bones”

Newly signed to independent alt label Rite Field Records, rising alt-rock Polish group Bagdad’s debut song is just as pensive and vast as their traditional Eastern European winters.

“Valley of Dry Bones” vibrates in its melancholy, lush atmosphere created by Franciszek Drobiński’s buzzing guitar and slack vocal lines. Enhanced by Wojciech Stach’s sleazy bass and raw drumming from Jakub Gadamski, the track is a successful meshing of contemporary slowcore and a ‘90s garage grunge sound. Full of spellbinding moments of tension and release, it’s both desolate and addictive down to its core: a shiny black ball that drips with a syrupy sadness.

This is a song that’s just as evocative as its title. “When I was writing the lyrics to it, a picture I saw once in a book as a child came to mind,” Drobiński says. “It was a scene from the Bible depicting Ezekeil’s vision of The Valley of Dry Bones. The song was a bit about something else, but the image stuck in my mind so much that it became the title.”

From contemporary acts like Deadharrie to ‘90s legends like Nirvana, Baghdad seems set to walk down the same path as successful underground musicians of a similar vein. Let’s hope they continue to tap the right one. With the release of their debut EP They Don’t Know coming in late March, we’ll soon find out if that blistering rock sound stands.