Let’s take a moment to look at Krallice.
Formed in 2007 and led by Mick Barr (guitar/vocals, Encenathrakh), Colin Marston (guitar/keyboards, Behold the Arctopus, Dysrhythmia, Encenathrakh, Gorguts…), Lev Weinstein (drums, Scarcity, Geryon, ex-Woe…), and Nicholas McMaster (vocals/bass, Edenic Past, Geryon…), the project is already releasing its fifteenth album, Scour Order, with the help of Profound Lore Records.
Krallice has always been a band I’ve heard spoken of with great respect, but also with some trepidation regarding its accessibility, and the cover art designed by guitarist Mick Barr didn’t exactly help me trust these Americans – it’s so nebulous, but above all, relatively unique, especially compared to their previous releases. Right from Agonal Shining, the first track, I realize what I’m getting myself into: a universe that’s as dissonant as can be, complex and meticulously crafted in a way few bands could claim. The melodies, however, are all very coherent, offering a few bursts of strange and almost joyful energy, a stark contrast to the darkness of the Black Metal I’d been led to expect – though I do find that darkness in the most virulent passages, along with that Avant-Garde touch also evident on Grievous Corrector. The vocals are far more oppressive than on the previous track, but they remain consistent with this sometimes raw approach – one that feels as though it’s meant to almost counterbalance the mysterious moments – before we’re hit with Kill the Guardian, which kicks off at a brisk pace and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, exposing us to a tangled web of riffs. Vocally, there’s an interesting visceral touch that shifts from time to time, making the sound more human as the harmonics intertwine before a semblance of respite, followed by a new wave that propels us toward Unceasing Path, which takes on a more ambient tone for a brief moment before finally letting go and picking up speed again. The sound, however, remains quite hazy, even during the aggressive passages, while it becomes almost theatrical on Living Useless Ritual, allowing keyboards and orchestrations to work their magic to enhance certain moments while preserving the virulent roots of black metal. We find this same approach on Indecipherable Divinities, where an abrupt style coexists with dissonance in a mix that strongly highlights both aspects while making them almost inseparable, but Her Green Arms offers us a brief moment of respite, allowing us to better brace for the next waves of darkness the track delivers, as well as its more original and unexpected breaks – whether gentle or, on the contrary, far more aggressive. The album concludes with the title track, Scour Order, which at first reminds me of the Norwegian scene of the ’80s and ’90s, but which, of course, evolves throughout its thirteen minutes, offering us ever more sudden jolts, rapid escalations, and jagged elements that are even more dissonant or even… surprising.
I still don’t know how to describe my experience with Krallice. The musicians know what they’re doing – there’s absolutely no doubt about that – but Scour Order is both so raw and so polished that it will take several listens to fully appreciate it.
85/100
