ALBUM REVIEW: minus – Krakow

After 13 years of producing music, KRAKOW have returned with an album that is the purest essence of what they are and what their sound is. With the release of their new album, minus, the jump from one track to another is a journey through time and space, visiting vastly different scenarios, yet all interconnected in some way. This same feeling and theme doesn’t stop with just the imagery, this entire journey through the album transcends their previous work, combining multiple instrumental elements together into one heavy, groovy melting pot.

The introductory track Black Wandering Sun is instantly a classic song worthy of bobbing your head to. The groovyness and underlying heavy bass and distorted guitar complement each other strongly, accompanied by the powerful vocals of Frode Kilvik bellowing out above them makes Black Wandering Sun an intense and melodic piece. Not only that, but this track features a guest guitar solo from the one and only Phil Campbell of MOTÖRHEAD, of which he performs a beautifully face-melting solo, right near the end. Entering the fray with a semi-acoustic collection, is Sirens. The star of this track has to be Rune Nesse, the drummer, as their ability to keep time and change signatures and tempo at a whim Is seriously impressive. Every single piece of percussion that is heard, is magnificently crafted and suited to every occasion. Almost halfway into the track, the pace and aggression pick up, to the point where you wish that an entire song was that style.

The Stranger drifts from sound to sound, crossing through acoustic and melody, beyond and into the darkest deepest pits of metal. At the midway point there is a sudden shift, as if a door has opened up and let through the darkness behind the thin veil of reality. The subtle way that the heaviness was introduced over time, slowly adding in more elements and then a sudden void of sound, letting the guitar solo call forth the darker constituents of their sound. After a brief period of unbridled, crushing metal, all that remains is chanting, fading into nothingness.

As we take this journey through time and the vastness of space, one thing is becoming ever clearer – doom is inevitable. So here is From Fire From Stone, a slow, droning melancholic track, ethereal vocals, a splash of wailing guitar and drums that sound like elephants feet stomping across the Earth. Overall, while the track is a welcome change, it still left a bit to be desired, as if there was something small that would boost the enjoyment.

To round off the album, we have Minus, the longest track by a country mile, clocking in at 9:44, comprising of no vocals and almost none of the heavier elements from the album so far. Its counterpart Tidlaus is a fair bit shorter than Minus but features much of the same. Some of the starker contrasts however, is the heaviness and weight within Tidlaus near the end, as the first third dips into a psychedelic stoner vibe. One interesting difference is that while there are vocals in Tidlaus, they are not in English, they are in fact Norwegian, the mother-tongue of KRAKOW.

Throughout the course of this album, KRAKOW have shown that they can tackle many genres with competency and continue to hone what they are already clearly very good at. While not every track is a godsend, there are no bad tracks per se, perhaps ones that could do with just a little more to push them. The strongest tracks are most assuredly Black Wandering Sun and The Stranger, though the instrumental numbers are certainly ones to keep an eye on. Overall, KRAKOW have pushed themselves with minus, having produced a great album, but one that leaves something to be desired.

Rating: 7/10

minus is set for release on August 31st via Karisma Records.

Like KRAKOW on Facebook.