Album Review: Karma’s Puppet – Where the Old Roots Grow (Self Released)

Karma’s Puppet, the five-piece metal band from Macclesfield in the UK, will release their debut full-length album ‘Where the Old Roots Grow’ on October 6th, 2023.

Announcing themselves as a band to keep an eye on when they performed on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock 2022, Karma’s Puppet’s debut album is hotly anticipated. Proving, across ten banger tracks, to have been more than worth the wait.

It’s a big start with The Vacuous as Karma’s Puppet set the bar high with a wandering atmospheric intro, before crunchy riffs and drums welcome a blistering anthem of heaviness. Groovy, with progressive twists, the vocals are snarling with uninhibited intensity. Something that is present throughout the entirety of the album and delivered with self-confidence on the following title track, a hyperactive blast of head-banging energy that has wicked tempo shifts.

Karma’s Puppet are sounding hot as hell, but they also have a dark side, and Down’s gothic intro is an example of that. Even if it makes your stomach drop out afterwards with emphatic thrash-tinged speed and one heck of a chorus. Though if we’re talking about banger choruses, Rot would like a word. Easily one of the most accessible tracks on the album, which shouldn’t underplay just how hard it goes. It’s just that chorus, which absolutely soars.

It’s then time to really get those neck muscles working as Thorns is a head-banger through and through. Whereas All Hell Breaks Loose does exactly what it says on the tin, albeit, with some cool twists and turns, and Sleepless… well, how about that bass? It’s killer here and a major component of just why this track hits so hard.

There’s still more to come too as Karma’s Puppet go on a slashing spree with the bloodthirsty groove monster that is The Butcher. Following that up with a frenetic shout-along in the form of Leader of Lies. This track could easily be a Karma’s Puppet live hit as every riff, hook, beat, and roar has such power. Before the album wraps up with one last reason to let loose and go wild to the heavy and anthemic sound that Karma’s Puppet create.

A banger debut that will help cement their place on the map. The quality within the UK metal scene shouldn’t be underestimated and Karma’s Puppet join the list of reasons everyone should be paying it more attention.

Karma’s Puppet – Where the Old Roots Grow Track Listing:

1. The Vacuous
2. Where the Old Roots Grow
3. Down
4. Rot
5. Thorns
6. All Hell Breaks Loose
7. Sleepless
8. The Butcher
9. Leader of Lies
10. Ghosts in Colour

Links

Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram