UNIVERSUM
"When they debuted, I wrote that “the musicians don't try to discover new lands, smoothly balancing between progressive metal and progressive rock with a slightly symphonic form.” Today, I would repeat that. However, there is even greater quality and maturity in this music, lots of interesting melodies and a polished, rich and spacious sound, which makes listening to this second album even more enjoyable."
"The entire release (both in terms of graphics and music) is one of the best, if not the best album of 2025 in the category of “albums by Polish artists.”"
"Anyone who enjoys progressive music should check out Universum. It's excellent music, sounds great, is full of ideas, and is brilliantly packaged! I'm adding it to my list of candidates for this year's summaries."
"It doesn’t have to be argued that Universum is a great album. What many Polish groups saw it for after one or two albums, it can not be otherwise that Sic Mundus will establish his name in our world."
"Following their impressive 2024 predecessor Illusions, Polish band SIC MUNDUS once again delivers a fine piece of work with Universum, reaffirming Poland's reputation as a prog stronghold. From the music to the outstanding design (three-panel digipak with a 16-page booklet), Universum is absolutely coherent, with the limited edition surprising listeners with a bonus CD that unexpectedly showcases SIC MUNDUS' electronic music qualities. A truly worthwhile listen for all prog free spirits who like to revel in memories of the heroic prog past."
"Sic Mundus has grown and delivered a great album. As with Illusions, the artwork is really great and fits the concept perfectly. Yet I believe there is still more to come and can only give you the advice to listen to Universum."
"The reality of it all is that Illusions is a truly fantastic album. One that as infinite grower bursts with outstanding performances and well-developed compositions full of exceptionally arranged changes in pace and atmosphere."
ILLUSIONS
"The reality of it all is that Illusions is a truly fantastic album. One that as infinite grower bursts with outstanding performances and well-developed compositions full of exceptionally arranged changes in pace and atmosphere."
"Even though Illusions is Sic Mundus' debut album, it is already known that Andrzej Sesiuk, Artur Placzyński and the musicians accompanying them managed to create something ambitious and mature, an album that has a chance to find recognition among many fans of progressive rock"
"The music on this release hit a nerve with me and if I were to sum up 2023 now, it would be on my shortlist of the best albums of last year!"
"I'll openly admit that I'm incredibly surprised that this release has remained so quiet in the progressive rock world so far. I haven't even seen a review of it. It's a shame, because it's an incredibly successful album that should intrigue progressive music fans in several respects."
"An interesting work of art consisting of surreal paintings, symphonic-electronic prog and some prog metal excursions."
"In contrast, the prog metal shines through in the instrumental 'Time Machine' with its melancholic guitars and becomes even darker in the cinematic 'Victory Of The Light'. Even the other instrumentals, 'Intergalactic Journey' and 'Two Moons', are genuine powerhouses."
"While this debut album, Illusions hasn’t yet won any innovation awards, it does receive plenty of recognition and offers a wealth of illusions of a special kind!"
"I've fallen in love, and I won't refuse any more dates. Oh my, how delicious it is..."
"Illusions dates back to 2023. I stumbled upon it by chance at the end of 2024 (ouch!) and the album made a big impression on me. The question is whether this occasional group will release a follow-up."
"A new prog-rock project on our scene, created by keyboardist Andrzej Sesiuk and bassist Artur Placzyński, who also wrote the repertoire, featuring musicians from Poland, Great Britain, Germany, Brazil, and Australia (vocals by Mikołaj Krzaczek, with Riverside guitarist Maciej Meller as one of the guests). The beautifully produced album (the music is illustrated by Jarosław Jaśnikowski's amazing paintings) is filled with thoughtful, multi-layered, colorfully arranged compositions, rooted in the prog rock and prog metal tradition, sometimes evoking associations with the work of masters from Camel and Peter Gabriel to Archive and Riverside, but nevertheless original, captivating with their unique mood and original arrangements (Night And Day, Victory OF The Light, This Is An Illusion)."