A new release from HKSPK.
Since their last EP, Leon (guitar), Jim Tonik (guitar/vocals), and Arne (drums) haven’t been sitting idle, the trio is already back with Heimkehr, their new release.
After a short but mysterious intro simply titled Prelude, driven by some keyboards and a sampled vocal, Torture hits us without warning, offering an incredibly aggressive blend of Black and Death Metal that brings out the twisted side of raw violence. The gut-wrenching vocals reinforce the already shrill sounds of the fast riffs, which quickly propel us into White Secretions II – a track that clearly echoes the first installment of this title from Holy Scum, their debut album – where we discover a far more massive sound. The blend of heavy rhythm and screeching vocals is devastating, relentlessly trampling us throughout the track, though it does grant us a brief respite before the heavy, punishing finale that leads into Sonnenjäger and its massive sounds, which remain in the vein of the closing moments of the previous track. Still, there’s a noticeable acceleration that keeps us on the edge of our seats and delivers a more piercing sound at times; then Kill the Weak takes on hints of Black/Death’n’Roll to offer a catchy hook that makes you want to bang your head while the double bass drum rolls over us. The band gives us a moment to catch our breath during the melancholic opening moments of Rot in Despair, then ventures into Doom-tinged territory before becoming much more intense with a sudden burst of energy, yet also more delicate with an acoustic break that heralds a far more gripping sound to close out the track. The energy returns with Rain in the Face, which reverts to a fairly simple, choppy sound paired with haunting albeit somewhat sad leads, but the DSBM influences become increasingly prominent before the title track Heimkehr weaves a reassuring sound, only to ultimately drown us in its waves of darkness at varying paces, drawing on complementary roots here and there to close out the EP.
While their previous EP featured an aggressive sound, Heimkehr marks a turning point for HKSPK, revealing far more nuance here and further anchoring the band in its veil of biting Black Metal. I’m already looking forward to their next tracks!
80/100
