LUNATIC SOUL – The World Under Unsun (Album Review)

Mariusz Duda is best known as the singer/bassist of Polish progressive rock/metal troupe Riverside, yet he’s spent almost as much time (nearly 20 years) delivering equally original and compelling – if drastically different – solo work as Lunatic Soul. Whereas the former project clearly taps into “prog” conventions, Lunatic Soul’s catalog is considerably more organic/rustic and abstract, focusing more on electronic/folk/art rock soundscapes and songwriting that are as ethereal and vague as they are traditionally appealing and sophisticated.

Duda’s eighth studio LP under the moniker –The World Under Unsun, which follows 2020’s Through Shaded Woods – carries the torch very well. In a sense, it combines the pastoral warmth and directness of its predecessor and 2018’s Under the Fragmented Sky with the relatively avant-garde stylings of 2011’s Impressions. Split into two discs that cumulatively last about 90 minutes, it can be a lot to digest at once, but every track earns its place, and at least a handful of them are instant classics.

As described in the press release, the central goal of Lunatic Soul is to pull from artists such as Dead Can Dance, Peter Gabriel, Mike Oldfield, and Depeche Mode by “blending ambient music and electronic music with folk and rock influences.” Duda justifiably sees Lunatic Soul and Riverside as equally important endeavors, too, and depending on your tastes, it’s quite understandable to prefer either one over the other.

As for the album itself, it tackles characteristically frank and complex psychological themes as it centers on “the story of a man trying to break free from toxic relationships and repetitive patterns. . . . It’s a story of inner conflict, something we all experience when faced with morally difficult decisions.” Interestingly, it also acts as the final chapter of the “Circle of Life and Death” saga, taking place “after . . . [2017’s] Fractured and before [2014’s] Walking on a Flashlight Beam.”

Duda’s always been a superb singer and musician, but his greatest attribute is his top-tier songwriting, and that’s abundantly clear here. Be it the poised catchiness of the opening title tune, the inspiring hooks of “Confession,” the grief-stricken confessions of “Good Memories Don’t Want to Die,” or the piano-led vulnerability of “Torn in Two” and “The New End,” every shade of Duda’s idiosyncratic songwriting is on full display. Beyond evoking prior Lunatic Soul material, these songs also recall the welcoming fragility and sincerity of Riverside records such as 2015’s Love, Fear and the Time Machine and 2018’s Wasteland.

Of course, the other key component of Lunatic Soul is its penchant for experimental and enigmatic instrumental collages (in which various textures and patterns overlap and intersect as intensity builds and diminishes). On that front, the LP is largely just as successful, with the looping tribal percussion of the aptly named “Loop of Fate” and the unabashed prog rock complexity of “Hands Made of Lead” standing out.

While there are no duds in the set (Duda is basically incapable of creating something less than good), there are a few pieces that would benefit from either shorter durations or additional ideas and surprises to justify their durations. Specifically, the longest tracks here –“Mind Obscured, Heart Eclipsed,” “Self in Distorted Glass,” and “Game Called Life” – are wonderful as is, but they’d probably work better if condensed by even a minute or two. Likewise, the cores of “Monsters” and “Parallels” are lovely, but as a whole, they’re a tad too repetitive.

Those minor complaints aside, The World Under Unsun is a majorly fulfilling and impressive return. As Duda reflects, it kind of feels like “a ‘Best of Lunatic Soul’” release in that it incorporates multiple eras and approaches. Despite suffering from sameness in certain spots and an overall prolonged runtime (as many double albums do), there’s more than enough here to appreciate and applaud. It’s probably not the best starting point for newcomers – or the best Lunatic Soul record from start to finish – but it’s an excellent addition to the Lunatic Soul universe.

Release Date: October 31st, 2025
Record Label: Inside Out Music
Genre: Progressive Rock / Art Rock

Musicians:

• Mariusz Duda / Vocals, piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, bass, percussion, piccolo bass
• Wawrzyniec Drumowicz / Drums (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13)
• Marcin Odyniec / Saxophone (tracks 2, 6, 8)
• Mateusz Owczarek / Guitar, soundscapes (tracks 4, 12)

The World Under Unsun Track-list:

1. The World Under Unsun
2. Loop of Fate
3. Good Memories Don’t Want to Die
4. Monsters
5. The Prophecy
6. Mind Obscured, Heart Eclipsed
7. Torn in Two
8. Hands Made of Lead
9. Ardour
10. Game Called Life
11. Confession
12. Parallels
13. Self in Distorted Glass
14. The New End

Order the album here.