EP REVIEW: Death Process – Koningsor

The clue’s in the name really; Death Process is a record borne of pain and grief. The new EP from Austin mathcore outfit KONINGSOR was written and recorded against the backdrop of three of their four members each losing a parent, and it really doesn’t take much to hear that in the music. Everyone grieves in their own way, but Death Process in particular manages to capture the feelings of anguish, fury and chaos that so often come with the experience of loss.

Admittedly, KONINGSOR have always had a chaotic streak. Formed in 2016, the Texans already have three EPs to their name before this one and all muster a considerable frenzy, although there does seem to have been a shift from some of the wirier post-hardcore elements of their first two releases to a more muscular and aggressive sound that’s not far removed at all from the likes of EVERY TIME I DIE and NORMA JEAN both on this EP and the band’s 2021 self-titled effort before it – both released via the always solid Silent Pendulum Records.

It also feels fair to say that Death Process brings a bit more breadth to the band’s vision than its predecessor, boasting a fulsome six tracks and a 21-minute runtime where the last one only had two and clocked in at seven-and-a-half. Essentially this enables KONINGSOR to shoot for a more varied and well-rounded experience, for example running from the super ETID-esque rager End Of An Error, to the stabby DILLINGERisms of Slow Creep, to the dreamy shoegaze elements of Tongue Cutter one after the other in a manner that manages to surprise while crucially still feeling focused and cohesive.

Either side of that run there’s the opener Rubberdactyl, and lead single Bile Ritual, both again majoring heavily on the winding riffs and caustic vocals that are this EP’s most prominent features, but standing tall above them all is the closing title track. With the bleak themes of the record on full display, it sees the band tear from frantic blast beats to a huge bellowed chorus to fleeting dynamic breaks as vocalist Paul Boudreaux pleads “I will always search for you / Give me the strength to lift my head above the water”. Every track on Death Process is strong, but it’s this titular cut that feels the biggest and hits the hardest of all.

Of course, to an extent it is easy enough to see where KONINGSOR have got most of their ideas from; as mentioned they sound a lot like some really great bands, but, to be clear, we are talking about some of the best to ever do it. As influences go, the band have chosen wisely, and more importantly they have the chops, the intensity and the range to pull it off. With the added emotional resonance of the themes at hand, Death Process is their most compelling effort yet, and hopefully an indicator of the depth they can draw from when the time comes to establish more of an identity of their own on a debut full-length.

Rating: 8/10

Death Process is set for release on June 2nd via Silent Pendulum Records.

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