Behold this journey through disappointment and despair, towards disintegration, by a newborn Black Metal beast hailing from Poland.
Exploring the lowest of lows of human nature, warped and excreted by the concrete jungle, a deeply personal tale of a troubled mind entrenched in a society seething right below the surface, and a journey through disappointment and despair, towards disintegration, the scorching L’appel du Vide (which is French for “the call of the void”), the debut opus by Kraków, Poland-based Black Metal unity KIR, is a powerful testament to the band’s relentless pursuit of creative expression. Recorded by Maciej Soboń at TRIPlets Audio, produced, engineered, mixed, mastered by the band’s own guitarist and bassist Ferment, displaying a grim artwork by another member of the band, vocalist Harvest, and featuring guest drummer Krzysztof Klingbein, the album explores themes of urban isolation, human frailty, and despair, reflecting a profound awareness of music as an art form that can challenge, disturb, and inspire.
The album couldn’t have started in a more atmospheric vibe than with DestinationVoid, exploding into the Black Metal extravaganza titled Monument, where the insane beats by Krzysztof alongside the piercing guitars by Ferment build the perfect ambience for Harvest to vociferate rabidly in the name of Black Metal. Then get ready for almost eight minutes of pure sonic devastation not recommended for the faint at heart titled Znów, or “again”, where Harvest sounds absolutely merciless during the whole song while Ferment fires his most decimating riffs of the entire album, followed by Eter, the Polish word for “ether”, which starts in a grim, more introspective manner to the vile guitar lines by Ferment, showcasing hints of Doom Metal added to their sound, therefore resulting in what’s by far the most haunting, obscure of all songs. The band brings forward their final Black Metal offering in Apoptosis, where their most cadaverous vein arises like a demonic entity, blasting almost ten minutes of no hope, nor any sign of peace, while the despair flowing from Harvest’s anguished roars is truly outstanding, consequently putting a terrific conclusion to such a flammable opus.
L’appel du Vide is a grungy, suffocating invitation to explore the “call of the void” within oneself – that impulse to teeter over the edge, to feel the pull of darkness and walk right up to it. Hence, you can get to know more about the duo on Facebook and on Instagram, and show them your utmost support to the extreme music scene by purchasing the album from their own BandCamp page or from the Godz ov War Productions’ BandCamp or webstore. With the caustic L’appel du Vide, KIR are inviting all listeners to lose themselves in a sonic landscape where the absurdity of modern life meets the beauty and despair of the human psyche, creating an unforgettable Black Metal journey for those willing to heed the call and, consequently, keeping the fires of underground extreme music burning bright for many centuries to come, always offering us all harsh, visceral and captivating music like what’s found in the band’s debut opus.
Best moments of the album: Znów and Apoptosis.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2024 Godz ov War Productions
Track listing
1. DestinationVoid 1:14
2. Monument 4:34
3. Znów 7:47
4. Eter 7:54
5. Apoptosis 9:28
Band members
Harvest – vocals
Ferment – guitars, bass
Guest musician
Krzysztof Klingbein – drums (session)
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 