KIR - L’appel du vide (2024)

Unleashing a fierce brand of Black Metal that combines the ferocity of Behemoth and the grittiness of Mgła, the enigmatic KIR sets a very high bar with their debut release “L’appel du vide”. With such a vicious sound that is both polished and commanding, this outfit is definitely one of the most unexpected surprises of 2024. Just scratching the surface of this release with a couple of spins, detailed attention and repeated listenings are needed to fully digest the album.

After a mood setting instrumental intro, the band comes at the listener in full force with the piercing “Monument”. Mixing hellish deep screams with a barrage of BM riffs, the album quickly sets a relentless tone. The drumming in this release is quite polished, keeping a blistering pace as tracks like “Znów” and “Eter” blast away. The Mgła style riffing creates very dynamic and melodic passages, while still not sounding like a copy-cat and greatly enhancing the band’s explosiveness.

We particularly enjoy the gritty and demoralizing brutality the band delivers, while mixing things up with crafty tempo changes and even some hypnotic clean vocals alongside ritualistic atmospherics. Closing with the 9-minute “Apoptosis”, the band really pulls all their influences and tricks together to create a very cohesive and punishing track, filled with dense atmospherics and even some creepy throat-singing passages reminiscent of The Ruins of Beverast/Urfaust.

Filled with highly dynamic and blistering riffs, alongside very well polished drumming, “L’appel du vide” is one of those multi-layered Black Metal releases that never gets old and leaves the listener with a new take after each listen. KIR is definitely an outfit filled with great ideas and crushing execution, so make sure to check these guys out and be prepared to headbang uncontrollably with this release.

Label: Godz Ov War Productions

Release: December 6th, 2024

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Poland