After five long years, Carach Angren return with their latest offering — a five-track EP titled The Cult of Kariba, which serves as a spiritual successor to their 2008 debut album Lammendam. This EP harkens back to their original roots not only in theme but in execution, crafting a ghostly aura that delivers its chilling mission with no wasted space.
Clocking in at barely 20 minutes, this release lasts just long enough to explore its atmosphere. It doesn’t quite plunge into the full depths it could have, but considering the pacing of past releases, this restraint may actually be a better creative decision.
The first track opens with a soaring, rising crescendo of an overture, supported by an excellent voice-over provided by Tim Wells. After just a short minute, it flows into the rhythmic and anthemic “Draw Blood,” which also features one of two violin solos on the EP (the other appearing on track five, “Venomous 1666”), performed by Nikos Mavridis. These violin passages add a refreshing and elegant classical flair.
The single “Ik Kom Uit Het Graf” marks the first track by Ardek and Seregor with lyrics written in Dutch — hopefully we’ll see more of this direction in future releases.
While The Cult of Kariba serves as a continuation of their first album’s narrative world, it is also perhaps their most fun and enjoyable release since Lammendam. The five-year break since Franckensteina Strataemontanus has clearly been put to great creative use, allowing the band to craft a tightly written, atmospheric, and memorable piece of work.
Best Track: “Venomous 1666”
Rating: 9.5/10
The Cult of Kariba is out now via Season of Mist.
Order:
https://orcd.co/carachangrenthecultofkariba
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/6haPZ1Ex0DuzfaeGL9D3Fo
