Back to DIY basics for Kavrila.
After three EPs and two albums, Ralph (bass), Miltos (drums), Andreas (guitar) and Alex (vocals) decided to record their new EP, Heretics I – armed with a Tascam – in collaboration with Supreme Chaos Records.
(Exitatio) warns us from the outset: the mix is dirty and the sound is dissonant, but the band asserts this and quickly hits us with Embers, which borrows its slowness from Doom but its raw energy from Punk. The mix may come as a surprise, but it works strangely well, allowing the riffs to adopt heavy harmonics between two unleashed screams before the final feedback that segues into Chains and its almost welcoming groove, once again reinforcing the contrast between the two worlds. The leads add an airy, unhealthy touch, while the rhythm section holds the composition together before moving on to jerky keys and then Petrified, which veers more towards the chaos of abrasive, uncontrollable Crust/Punk. Back to torpor and heaviness with Ascend, where the guitar is sometimes adorned with a few aerial effects to complement the imposing sound, but we gradually feel it die and fade away into background noise before finding strange touches again on (Ire sub), which seems to be the outro and carries our spirit with its intriguing modern notes. The more seasoned listeners follow up with Anguish, a bonus track that perfectly couples the band’s two main influences in a tumultuous but relatively steady march, keeping the initial approach intact.
If you’ve had enough of smooth productions, Kavrila is the project you absolutely must discover in 2025! Their Punk touch allows Doom to take unexpected forms on Heretics I, and we can only salute the vintage recording method!
70/100