KHNVM – Visions of a Plague Ridden Sky (Neckbreaker Records)
Wednesday, 21st June 2023
Following two albums that received critical (as well as fan) acclaim, KHNVM embarked on their first tour across Germany while playing a series of festivals like In Flammen Open Air, Masters of the Unicorn, and Metal Attack. Main catalyst Obliterator would move within Germany during 2022, recruiting Incinerate drummer Alex Simpson to develop this latest EP Visions of a Plague Ridden Sky. Featuring five full songs plus a two-part instrumental series (“Hourglass of Decadence I and II”), listeners can expect a brutal form of death metal that has a lot of intricate intensity beyond some eastern classical influences.
Blasting measures as well as the frantic riff parade soon seesaw against some mid-tempo/doom passages for “Awakening the Inner Alchemy I”, recalling the best of Immolation, Gorguts, plus periods of Death circa Spiritual Healing while Obliterator spits out the words in gravelly despair. The layers of chaotic riffs squeezed into each measure against Alex’s killer drum action will keep heads swiveling into constant hair windmill motions – only given small segments of reprieve like in the back section of the title cut, where acoustic embellishment tantalizes in more classical swirls. The natural solid musical hook underpinning allows the progressive nature of the music that much more depth of clarity – most will be hypnotized by the bone crushing atmosphere that highlight “Grand Evisceration” delivers – the rhythmic screams/growls conjuring up a deadly bellow against some sinister lead break circular runs and bends. With twenty-five minutes of material, some would almost put this in the full-length category, so billing it as an EP should satiate followers who want maximum entertainment value at an affordable price.
Recently playing a full Brazilian tour with a fall Baltic swing in the works, KHNVM possess all the key qualities to be another innovator in the semi-technical, old school progressive death mold where they don’t let the intricacies supersede quality, catchy songwriting.
