(We begin a new week at NCS with Todd Manning‘s review of the self-titled debut album from Indianapolis-based Kiritsis, out now on Wise Blood Records and Pout Records.)
Metal and hardcore have provided us with many ways to portray the nastiness of everyday life. Indianapolis-based quartet Kiritsis takes a sludge template and injects it with some nasty hardcore at just the right moments, creating the soundtrack to the rage that is slowly consuming our broken psyches.
The opening riff for “Knuckles” sets the stage. It’s the kind of head-nodding sludge riff sure to bring an involuntary scowl to any metal connoisseur’s face. The sound is a bit reminiscent of Crowbar at their most aggressive, such as on “High-Rate Extinction”. Yet, Kiritsis sounds more epic; perhaps some Neurosis influence sneaking in as well.
Upon hearing “Locusts”, many will point to High on Fire, but these ears hear it differently. The faster tune brings to mind Integrity, with the uptempo gallop giving way to a fantastic, mosh-worthy section. Maybe we’re splitting hairs here, maybe Motörhead is the common ancestor to this Cro-Magnon anger-fest. Like the best of the sludge bands, there’s hardcore in the Kiritsis DNA.
Each tune seethes with vitriol, every pounding riff supporting the vicious vocal delivery of Bake Henry. “Pissant” repeatedly bears his accustion, “you really fucked it up this time!”. The more atmospheric “It Ain’t Easy” still bears a scathing vocal line, alternating between despondency and venom.
Kiritsis moves from strength to strength. The short blast of “Like the Taste” sounds like Terror in a back-alley knife fight with Buzzoven. Much like “It Ain’t Easy”, “Theives and Fools” displays the quartet’s control of dynamics. Even the softer sections are harrowing. The percussion-driven “Never Coming Home” hints at Neurosis again, but midway through, it begins to mine a vein of immediacy that gives the song its own unique character.
The album closes with “Deny.Defend.Dispose.” As the title implies, Kiritsis focus their anger for one final tirade. The riffing balances intensity and atmosphere and proves an excellent summation of all that has come before it.
Praise to Wise Blood Records and Pout Records for teaming up to bring out this debut from a new band. I know they just played their first show and proved to be an already formidable act. While their music is bleak, the future is bright for Kiritsis and it’s exciting to see where they’re headed next.
https://kiritsis.bandcamp.com/album/kiritsis
https://www.facebook.com/p/Kiritsis-61568755588694/