Karkosa Deliver a Lethal Dose of Death Metal on "Poison of God" (Early Track Stream)
As blasphemous and corrosive as it is, Karkosa's new album Esoterrorcult reaches a level of catchiness that blackened death metal rarely nails, but honestly could stand to reach more often. There's no tradeoffs happening here, as Esoterrorcult is big on impact and vile, crawling riffs--but the Indiana group's core offering comes with engaging trappings that only add to the experience. Somber spoken word interludes, near-operatic gang vocals, and massive production make every song memorable, though the band's dynamic songwriting plays a role there as well. It's interesting to hear scream-along-worthy lyrics next to exacting technical staccato riffs, but damn if it doesn't work here. Dip into the dramatic hellish world of Karkosa with new single "Poison of God," premiering below.
...
...
There's a lot going on musically on "Poison of God," but it's unified by a commanding sense of, shall we say, blackenedness--a near-tangible layer of crystallized malice that tinges the whole thing. Note the subtle, but effective string and vocal sections that double down on the anti-angelic aesthetic here--Karkosa takes their sacrilege very seriously, and their charismatic delivery makes for compelling sermons.
The band comments:
Poison of God delves into the Qliphoth, the Tree of Darkness, the blackened shadow of the tree of life. It portrays the various demons encountered on the journey to becoming the Anti-Christ. This song signifies the varied trials of that passage. It is an accompaniment on the voyage into iniquity.
...
Esoterrorcult releases February 23rd via Redefining Darkness Records.
