Album Review: Karkosa – Esoterrorcult (Redefining Darkness Records)

Black metal heathens, Karkosa will release their new album, ‘Esoterrorcult’, on February 23rd, 2024, via Redefining Darkness Records.

As black as it comes, but with shades of death metal, with layers of dark atmosphere, and twisted by melodic touches, Esoterrorcult is a beastly release. Unrelentingly intense, regardless of tempo, it creeps into the mind like a malevolent night visitor. Yet, this nightmare is reality and the proof comes in the form of ten tracks.

Beginning with Encorcelled Spirits, the immediate takeaway is one of my forcefulness, but as traditionally harsh as Karkosa’s sound is, this is also a track that shows their creative adaption of the familiar style. Creativity that continues into Poison of God and The Tomb of Hyram Abiff, even if the cacophony of noise is sometimes so much, it’s not easy to appreciate the different elements to Karkosa.

That’s what multiple listens are for, and multiple listens will happen because this blackened noise is compelling. Tracks like Domini Sanctum, Axis Mundi, Remnants of Creation, and Cyclopian Gateway offer up so much variety, while each being uncompromisingly harsh and heavy. Which is the core takeaway from this album, it’s just nice to hear a band try to be fresh.

A goal they emphatically accomplish, with no further proof needed than the carnage that comes from Shattered Throne and The Freezing Shadows of Eternal Winter. An exciting pair of heavyweight efforts that keeps focus exactly where it should be, this album and what Karkosa are bringing. It speaks volumes that the arrival of Angelus Ejectiones comes as something of a surprise. The finale sneaking up and bringing the record to a close in style. Blacker than a starless night, blacker than the gaping mouth of an interdimensional being, and blacker than the void your soul will be condemned to for listening to this album.

Karkosa – Esoterrorcult Track Listing:

1. Encorcelled Spirits
2. Poison of God
3. The Tomb of Hyram Abiff
4. Domini Sanctum
5. Axis Mundi
6. Remnants of Creation
7. Cyclopian Gateway
8. Shattered Throne
9. The Freezing Shadows of Eternal Winter
10. Angelus Ejectiones

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