Kiritsis - S/T Review • Strah

There are blends I would never wonder they existed if some band had not come here and proved me they existed. That’s exactly what happens with Kiritsis and their self-tittled debut album “Kiritsis,” which allegedly blends two very different styles as Hardcore with Doom Metal. However, for my surprise and for many fans, this blend is possible and Kiritsis proved us wrong and them right.

While the band, and their proposal, is brend new, their members are veterans of hardcore and metal scenes with current/former bands Trenches, Sundown and Hatesong. It is always a surprise when veteran musicians form a new band with a proposal that is very far from what they do. Their debut album “Kiritsis” took the best from both worlds, if you know what I mean. The album is heavier than hell with vocals that mix the anger from hardcore with the slow going mood of Doom Metal adding a very interesting dynamic to the music. Interestingly, Kiritsis do not follow the easiest formula that would be having songs inspired on Harcore and songs inspired on Doom Metal. In fact, they mix the both together with crunching riffs performed slow and direct as Hardcore would, except for the speed. “Pissant” is a great example. The impression is that the song slowly goes crushing the skulls as the machines do in the Terminator franchise. The same happens with the impressive “It Ain’t Easy” whose bass lines introduce the slow skull crushing. The anger Bake Henry’s vocal passes the fan is really something to be praised. Slow skull crushing, remember?

Album opener “Knuckles” was the first surprise the album delivered because after reading the press release I did not believe the combination the band proposed was possible. Well, it was. In fact, they do combine pretty well and the effect is pretty amazing. The overtones of Hardcore guitars make a difference in the general mood of the album. It’s also the way the musicians performe their instruments that differentiates Kiritsis from other bands. Old dogs learn new tricks as they say.

Kiritsis “S/T” will be released on April 04th via Wise Blood Records.

Track Listing: