Out of the dozen plus records Armia have released, „Legenda” (1990) and „Triodante” (1994) are widely regarded as classic Polish rock gems. The band have established their position with hundreds of concerts (with Killing Joke and New Model Army among others) and by appearing at many prestigious festivals in and outside Poland. Their concert activity is documented on such albums as „Exodus” (1991), „Soul Side Story” (2000), „Koncert na 20-lecie” (2006), and „Przystanek Woodstock 2004” (2007).
In 2006 the band released a live DVD called „Koncert na 20-lecie”, which documents the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the band’s formation. Among the guest stars are Kazik Staszewski of Kult, Moskwa, as well as former members Darek Malejonek and Sławek Gołaszewski (with his band Asunta). The 35-song track list includes some legendary Siekiera songs, with an over-an-hour long interview with Tomasz Budzyński added as a bonus.
Over the twenty years of the band’s career, its line-up consisted of many outstanding and distinguished figures of Polish rock music. The Armia of now are: Tomasz Budzyński (voice), Tomasz Krzyżaniak (drums), Krzysztof Kmiecik (bass), Paweł Klimczak (guitar), Rafał Giec (guitar), and Jakub Bartoszewski (French horn).
The power of Armia lies in the combination of Tomasz Budzyński’s poetry with the music which is at the same time sophisticated and expressive, and which merges elements of rock, folk, and even classical music. The use of the unusual instruments for today’s rock standards, such as French horn, flute, cello or violin, renders the band offer unique and guarantees them a special place on the Polish rock scene. Armia remains a band whose original music is not to be pigeonholed. The lyrics abound with references to outstanding works of the world’s literature such as Dante’s „ Divine Comedy” or poems by Samuel Beckett and Artur Rimbaud, as well as Franz Kafka novels, which again makes Armia sensational on a worldwide scale. Tomasz Budzyński’s lyrics call for a serious reflection upon the spiritual condition of man today. The band try to provide the listeners with more than mere entertainment, through their art inviting them to make an existential quest for the meaning of life.
2009 is special in the history of the band, as by the end of November they will have released two brilliant (and so different) records in one year. In February, “der Prozess” was out, another concept-album in Armia’s discography. The very title suggest the link with Franz Kafka’s masterpiece, an inspiration which Tomasz Budzyński does not deny. The album is not an illustration of the book, however, but an individual glance at the existential tragedy of each human being, coloured by the references to Kierkegaard philosophy. Most personal lyrics combined with the aggressive and complex music bring a really stunning effect. Six compositions by Paweł Klimczak make a sophisticated suite with a unique combination of hardcore stylistics with elements of jazz and even the modern avant-garde classical music. The wall of guitars, the fantastic drumming from Tomasz Krzyżaniak and Banan’s fairytale French horn make an uncanny background for the powerful vocals of Tom with theatrical touches.
Yet at the moment Armia have just finished working at the brand new album called „Freak”, which is to be released on 20 November 2009, by Isound Labels. Sensationally, founder members Robert Brylewski and Sławomir Gołaszewski took part in the session. Apart from the characteristic psychedelic guitars by Afa and the magic instruments by Merlin, the album features some free-jazz saxophones by Marek Pospieszalski and Łukasz Kluczniak (who has already contributed to the band’s concerts), as well as the otherworldly accordion from Karol Nowacki and some backing vocals from Gerard Nowak of The Soundrops. The album is produced by Tomasz Budzyński and the material has been recorded at Robert Lica Friedrich’s studio in Puszczykowo near Poznań.
“Freak”, which little resembles the monumental sound of “der Prozess”, comes as a complete stylistic shift for Armia. The fact that all the tracks are sung by Tomasz Budzyński in English only adds to the novelty of the album.
Armia’s discography:
AntiArmia (1987)
Legenda (1990)
Exodus (1991)
Czas i byt (1992)
Triodante (1994)
Duch (1996)
Droga (1999)
Soul Side Story (2000)
Pocałunek Mongolskiego Księcia (2003)
Ultima Thule (2005)
Koncert na 20-lecie (DVD, 2005)
Przystanek Woodstock 2004 (2006)
Der Prozess (2009)
Freak (2009)
Niezwyciężony
Armia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ofiarą jestem ja
I piórem z Twojego skrzydła
Na wodzie rysuję ślad
Posłuchaj jeszcze raz, to wieje wiatr
Oddaję Ci swój czas i czekam na znak
Hej, hej, Niezwyciężony!
Hej, hej, poznać się daj.
Hej, hej, Niezwyciężony!
Hej, hej, wstawaj i walcz!
Podobno pomagasz nieść ciężar
Wszystkiego, nie śmieci, o tak!
Podobno mieszkasz tak blisko
Najbliżej jak tylko się da
Posłuchaj jeszcze raz, to wieje wiatr
Oddaję Ci swój czas i czekam na znak
Hej, hej, Niezwyciężony!
Hej, hej, poznać się daj.
Hej, hej, Niezwyciężony!
Hej, hej, wstawaj i walcz!
Szarańcza pożera olbrzymów
I woda tryska ze skał
I nic tu nie ma do rozumienia
Wystarczy tylko
Posłuchać jeszcze raz, to wieje wiatr
Oddaję Ci swój czas i czekam na znak
Hej, hej, Niezwyciężony!
Hej, hej, poznać się daj.
Hej, hej, Niezwyciężony!
Hej, hej, wstawaj i walcz!
Hej, hej, hej, hej, hej, hej
Hej, hej, hej, hej, hej, hej
The lyrics to Armia's song "Niezwyciężony" (Unbeatable) tell a story of a person who has become a victim of someone or something powerful, represented by the metaphor of fire falling upon prey. However, the person is not defeated and instead takes a feather from "your wing" (perhaps referring to an angel or spiritual entity) and draws a trace on the water, a symbol of impermanence and fleetingness in Eastern philosophy. The singer then asks for a sign from this entity, willing to surrender their time and attention.
The chorus then addresses the entity as "Niezwyciężony," meaning unbeatable or invincible. The singer asks to get to know this entity and invites them to reveal themselves. The repeated exclamation "Hej, hej!" sounds almost like a battle cry, suggesting that the singer seeks strength and courage from this unbeatable force.
In the third verse, the lyrics employ more vivid metaphors, such as locusts devouring giants and water spurting out of rocks. These images convey a sense of awe and mystery towards this powerful entity, which remains beyond human comprehension but can be accessed by surrendering oneself to it.
Overall, the lyrics express a desire for connection with a transcendent, mysterious entity that can provide strength and courage in the face of adversity. The use of nature imagery and metaphors emphasizes the elemental, primal nature of this connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Jak ogień spadasz na zdobycz
You come down on your prey like fire
Ofiarą jestem ja
I am the victim
I piórem z Twojego skrzydła
And with a feather from your wing
Na wodzie rysuję ślad
I draw a trace on the water
Posłuchaj jeszcze raz, to wieje wiatr
Listen again, the wind is blowing
Oddaję Ci swój czas i czekam na znak
I give you my time and wait for a sign
Hej, hej, Niezwyciężony!
Hey, hey, Unconquerable!
Hej, hej, poznać się daj.
Hey, hey, let me get to know you.
Hej, hej, wstawaj i walcz!
Hey, hey, get up and fight!
Podobno pomagasz nieść ciężar
They say you help carry the burden
Wszystkiego, nie śmieci, o tak!
Of everything, not trash, oh yes!
Podobno mieszkasz tak blisko
They say you live so close
Najbliżej jak tylko się da
The closest you can get
Szarańcza pożera olbrzymów
The locust devours giants
I woda tryska ze skał
And water gushes from the rocks
I nic tu nie ma do rozumienia
And there's nothing to understand here
Wystarczy tylko
All you need is
Hej, hej, hej, hej, hej, hej
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Contributed by Wyatt Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.