KARKOSA (USA) – ‘Esoterrorcult’ CD

“As blasphemous and corrosive as it is, Karkosa’s new album Esoterrorcult reaches a level of catchiness that blackened death metal rarely nails, but honestly could stand to reach more often. There’s no tradeoffs happening here, as Esoterrorcult is big on impact and vile, crawling riffs–but the Indiana group’s core offering comes with engaging trappings that only add to the experience. Somber spoken word interludes, near-operatic gang vocals, and massive production make every song memorable, though the band’s dynamic songwriting plays a role there as well. It’s interesting to hear scream-along-worthy lyrics next to exacting technical staccato riffs, but damn if it doesn’t work here. ” – Invisible Oranges