Illusion and twenty years of “Illusion 3”: the Polish band’s third album anniversary

November will mark 20 years since the release of Illusion’s third album! The band have decided to celebrate the anniversary of “Illusion 3” in a special way. They will play the album in full at their December concerts, and a commemorative T-shirt will also go on sale. These shows will offer a truly unique opportunity to hear “Holy land”, “Wrona” and “Choćby jęk” live. Illusion will perform at Progresja on Wednesday, 9 December 2015.

Few bands deserve the title of Polish rock legends as much as Illusion. In the 1990s, Tomasz “Lipa” Lipnicki and his colleagues delivered the finest, most unforgettable concerts. Every riff was an electric shock driving fans into a frenzy. Generations of Polish guitarists can play “Nóż”, “Vendetta” and “Wojtek” with their eyes closed. Powerful sound met a powerful message: Lipa’s lyrics fiercely opposed violence, humiliation and human-rights abuses.

Over five years, the group recorded five albums, all achieving cult status, then suspended activity just before the new millennium. Grieving fans remembered them as the benchmark for Polish heavy rock. In 2008, Illusion briefly reappeared, rocking Wrocław’s Centennial Hall. Despite the wonderful atmosphere and enthusiastic reception, with nine thousand fans attending, listeners had to wait a little longer for a proper comeback. It happened! The legend proved very much alive, and 2014’s “Opowieści” silenced every doubter.

“Trójka”, which the band will perform in full at the December concerts, is the most diverse album in Illusion’s history, and many fans consider it their finest. Alongside uniquely ferocious tracks such as “Nikt” and “Vendetta”, it made room for surprisingly restrained, at times almost psychedelic numbers. Subtle, gritty sounds broke through the monumental wall of guitars, and the entire record was performed with an almost unbelievable feel. It earned a Fryderyk nomination in the alternative music category, while Lipa’s vocal talent, reaching its peak on “Trójka”, was also recognised. This is one of the best-played and best-sung records in Polish rock history: do not miss the opportunity to hear it performed live in its entirety.