Album Review: Klogr – Fractured Realities (Zeta Factory)

After a seven-year hiatus following their last album, ‘Keystone,’ melodic metallers, Klogr triumphantly return with their brand-new album, ‘Fractured Realities’, on October 31st, 2024.

It has been a long wait, and a lot has happened in between, but this new album marks a new chapter for the band, and they’ve never sounded more urgent and necessary as they do on this record.

Featuring ten pieces of the modern Klogr puzzle, Fractured Realities proves to be an apt title as there is a sense of discombobulation with what this album has to offer. As though Klogr have been searching far and wide in different realities for their direction, and every time they grasped it, something happened to fracture that particular place. Which does mean the album doesn’t always have the most coherent of flows, but it does mean it keeps you on your toes as there’s no clear idea of what to expect next. Aside from more Klogr goodness, and this record has a lot of that on offer.

Case in point, Early Wounds’ proggy rock edge that results in something delightfully catchy, especially when the chorus hits. Followed by Gravity of Fear’s thicker instrumental tone and sense of deepening darkness. Two tracks, both with effective melody and heaviness, but from different places.

It’s an indicator of variety, and Klogr keep that going with the fun groove touches of The Twisted Art, where injections of vitality excite and the band begin to show off a heavier side to their sound. Something they build upon with a wild display of guitar and drum heaviness with Face the Unknown, the payoff being another seriously solid chorus. Then there is One the Eight with its tempo mix and errant melodic approach, a track made all the better for the vocals that are exceptionally attention grabbing.

Which is par for the course on this album as, once again, all the moving parts of Klogr are on fine form here. The longer the album goes on, the deeper the listener goes into it, the more it satisfies and the more it impresses. The latter half offering up a bevy of strong tracks like Lead Wings (with a chorus that has a bit of classic rock about it), Unspoken Words (that opening riff is meaty), Hysterical Blindness (a track with a retro feel), and Waking World (a chunky head banger).

By time the finale of Whale Fall, a moody slab of melody that has grunge touches and plenty of alternative value, comes along most will be all in on what Klogr are doing here. Worth the wait? There’s no doubt most will think so, especially as this does herald a new chapter for the band. Klogr’s future has never looked brighter, even if this new record has a gloominess to it.

Klogr – Fractured Realities Track Listing:

1. Early Wounds
2. Gravity of Fear
3. The Twisted Art
4. Face the Unknown
5. One of Eight
6. Lead Wings
7. Unspoken Words
8. Hysterical Blindness
9. Waking World
10. Whale Fall

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