IRA

Formed in Radom in 1987 around guitarist Kuba Płucisz, IRA writes itself into the history of Polish rock with a career marked by several stylistic changes and a long on-stage presence. The band, now led by Artur Gadowski, Piotr Sujka, Wojciech Owczarek, Sebastian Piekarek and Piotr Konca, began in a range between pop-rock, hard rock and melodic heavy metal, as heard on the albums Ira (1989), Mój dom (1991) and 1993 rok (1993). In the 1990s, IRA toured intensively in Poland, notably playing in Jarocin and in 1994 supporting Aerosmith in Warsaw. With Znamię (1994), IRA sharpened its sound toward heavier metal influences, before returning to a more melodic writing on Ogrody (1995). After a dormancy at the end of the 1990s, the group resumed activity in the early 2000s and evolved its aesthetics toward a more direct alternative rock and post-grunge, audible on Tu i teraz (2002), Ogień (2004) or Londyn 08:15 (2007). IRA also shared the stage with Def Leppard and Bon Jovi, while maintaining regular activity at festivals, in venues and in acoustic formats. Its discography continued with 9 (2009), X (2013), My (2016) and Jutro (2021), in an accessible rock vein, carried by straightforward guitars, readable choruses and a durable alternation between tense tracks and ballads.