REVIEW: Weedpecker - V

Five years on from their previous release, WEEDPECKER return with their highly anticipated fifth studio album V. PIOTR wrote that this album is deeply personal to him and is used to process his emotions, and this shines all throughout the LP. This is him opening up and that feels truly special to witness. The Polish psychedelic, progressive rock outfit open with a calm and atmospheric tone, much different to the opener for IV. Where that is much more in your face and straight to the point, the first track on V really builds tension and eases you into the energy that we’ve come to know and love from WEEDPECKER. With significantly more synths than their previous work, an ethereal atmosphere is created that draws you into a trance-like state and keeps the listener engaged. The intro is short, simple and leaves you aching for more, waiting to see what they deliver. 

And deliver they do with the second track Fading Whispers which boasts mellow drums and spacey guitar riffs to begin with. PIOTR DOBY's angelic clean vocals break through the mix blending beautifully with the instrumentals which can only be described as sensational. The sound is very akin to their earlier work on II and III. However, early on it breaks away from this formula and takes on a much heavier sensibility with distorted guitars and rippling synths which raises the energy in a major fashion. The band rides out this high for much of the track, risking repetition, however due to ZBIGNIEW PROMIŃSKI's talent on the drums, allows it to feel unique from start to finish, leaving a real impression on the listener. 

Ash comes in with a wavy guitar and gentle hits on the ride, a stark contrast to the previous track as once again the energy slowly builds up. The dream-like and gentle atmosphere only lingers for a short while until a heavy chugging guitar enters the mix alongside PIOTR showing a different approach with his vocals with much more volume and energy to the previous tracks while still blending in his clean, signature style. The drums also impress with this one heavily giving the more prog-rock characteristics with unique time signatures and intricate work on the cymbals. Third on the track list we have In The Dark We Shine which kicks off with some more angelic vocals from PIOTR, in perfect combination with mellow guitar and drums mixed well as to not overpower the smooth vocals. The synths make occasional appearances adding a lovely accent to an already gentle mix. As far as the track list goes, this song blends seamlessly, even with the more relaxed approach. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSzxgmzc2-U

You’re immediately jolted with energy from the beginning of Mirrors which throws some much heavier guitar at you with some higher tempo drums, courtesy of PROMIŃSKI who consistently demonstrates his technical ability throughout this LP, especially in this track. PIOTR’s vocals are mixed further into the background with this one, allowing the instruments to take charge, showcasing the bands talent. The final track The Last Summer Of Youth mellows things back out again returning to the calm demeanour of In The Dark We Shine with an acoustic guitar and more technical yet relaxed drumming from PROMIŃSKI. PIOTR delivers yet again with more superb clean vocals as he has provided throughout the LP.  

Overall, V feels much more polished and flows much better than IV and maintains a grip on the listener throughout the entire LP. By no means is it a redefining album, yet it does feel as though they have refined their sound significantly. It will most certainly be interesting to see how they implement these tracks into their live performances, yet it is likely be a great show, nonetheless. But with the addition of these new tracks, it feels as though WEEDPECKER have reached a new level in their work, with the vibe being very polished, yet you never know what’s next. The whole LP is immersive and transcending and overall, a solid piece of work, with the personal meaning to PIOTR making it all the more special. 

Score: 9/10 

V will be released on 27th February 2026 via Heavy Psych Sounds

Words: Theo Hogan

Photos: Aleksandra Burska