What is amazing to witness is the progression of the Polish band Seven Nation Army, going all the way back to the days when they were part of the Krakow rock music scene, right up to this point, which marks an exceptionally sharp evolution of the band’s sound. The knowledge that Jarek Balsamski has been working for twenty years on perfecting his unique niche in the rock music scene, where he mixes post-grunge honesty with industrial and synth-rock precision, makes it apparent that Power and Money represents a long-standing creative manifesto of sorts. In light of the three-song EP they released on 21st May, one can see the manifestation of his vision through the fact that he has created a project that will not remain stagnant, showcasing through these specific arrangements how flexible and strong his musical vision is. It is time to unveil this EP through these three songs.

In “Power and Money – Electro Time,” the piece opens up with the sound of a sterile, oscillating data-flow: an even, chirping digital buzz that has the effect of a server-room heartbeat. It creates a barren, electronic landscape on which to play out the anxieties of contemporary disconnection. The lyrics confront the audience directly with the issues of human commodification and question a life measured in currency rather than connection. The character in the song is confronting someone who has been corrupted by power and money. She tells this person that he is selfish and that power and money will not last forever. The sound design in this track is sterile: the programming is precise, and the bass synths feel as though they are quivering against a glass floor; the vocal style is spectral and detached: delivered with a cool, robotic tone that feels completely at ease with the idea of its own redundancy. This rendition has a clinical effect, as it leaves the listener feeling as though they are being confronted directly.

Next is “Power and Money – 80s Synth”. The iteration of the song has changed the game entirely: it opens with an impenetrable haze of resonant analog oscillators that build into a wave of neon synths and takes you somewhere between dreaming and the lost utopia of the future, turning the theme from a commentary on the present to weaponized nostalgia for a potential that passed you by. The lyrics and the theme of the song remain the same. From the audience side, this song brings the movie-ish and experimental melodrama to the proceedings, the feeling that you’ve walked into a sorrowful arena that renders the lyrics epic.

The final track, “Power and Money – Raw Guitars,” begins with the jolted intake of air typical of live guitar feedback, which is then followed by a dry and aggressive sound, as if straight from the strings, unadorned by any amplification. Here, there is no subtlety; rather, we encounter a brusque, tangible sound, with the distinct sound of fingered strings and the human beating of drums. The singing takes on a raspy, harsh sound, rejecting all the detachment of the earlier renditions. “Raw Guitars” comes across with such power as to be akin to physical violence, leaving the listener invigorated and prepared for rebellion.

Power and Money EP by Seven Nation Army is something exceptional because this musical creation demands not only your interest; it asks you to give yourself completely over to it. Right from the start, one understands what this combination of alternative rock and intense electronic soundscapes has brought together to make a unique musical atmosphere with cinematic gloominess, which can mesmerize but scare at the same time. There is an underlying force present here that acts as a dark, merciless indictment of today’s world. One needs to mention that the lyrics are deep and incisive enough to shock everyone who dares to listen and try to figure out the real meaning behind each word used. This album is simply indispensable for anyone looking to compile the finest music in modern rock, electro-rock, and cinematic alternative genres, especially if what you are looking for is a musical experience that sticks with you even after the last notes have ended. If you are someone whose ear is attuned to the sound of industrial tension in the music of Nine Inch Nails, the structural magnificence and ambitions of Muse, the elegance of moodiness in Depeche Mode’s music, or the raw ferocity of Linkin Park and the evolving electronica of Bring Me the Horizon, then this album is destined to resonate with you deeply. However, the greatest feat that this band has accomplished, perhaps, is the sheer daring of its versatility, which has allowed it to create an absolutely memorable experience with every play-through. The sheer brilliance of their artistic intent makes it quite clear that they aren’t just musicians; they are masters of creating an atmosphere. I left this experience feeling totally amazed at the level of skill these people possess, and now find myself in the rare position of being impatient in anticipation. I am literally counting down the hours until their next album comes out, because if they can do this, then the future of the genre belongs to them.

Stream the “Power and Money” EP on Spotify 

Follow Seven Nation Army here and their socials: X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube