Carach Angren - The Cult of Kariba (2025)

Delivering a very cinematic and elegant Symphonic Black Metal release, today we have Dutch duo Carach Angren and their EP “The Cult of Kariba”. Keeping up with their very elaborate and lush style, for over 20 minutes and five tracks, the band fully immerses the listener in their own horror-themed world thanks to powerful arrangements and crafty progressions. It has been five years since “Franckensteina Strataemontanus”, and the band showcases they were just getting started with their intricate and highly elaborate music.

Setting a chilling mood with the opening narration of the story in “A Malevolent Force Stirs”, the band quickly continues with the haunting “Draw Blood’ and its crafty catchiness. Giving us some vibes of very early Cradle of Filth on their “Dusk and Her Embrace” days, Carach Angren are experts in creating creepy atmospheres and very lush arrangements, making songs quite dramatic and cinematic, like “The Resurrection of Kariba”, while still delivering a hefty dosage of heavy riffs and a mixture of harsh vocal styles.

Shaking things up and creating a very intoxicating, and creepy, atmosphere, “Ik Kom Uit Het Graf” and its electronic/industrial elements nicely showcase a different side of the band. Saving the most epic for last, “Venomous 1666” is one hell of a ride with crafty guitars, dramatic orchestrations, and a very fast-paced vibe, with elegant atmospherics. As a whole, “The Cult of Kariba” is one of those immersive releases that are hard to move away from. Fans of the band will definitely be left very excited with this release as it shows the band is getting even better.

Label: Season of Mist

Release: October 17th, 2025

Genre: Symphonic Black Metal

Country: Netherlands