Release Date: August 09th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Of Amber And Sand: Tracklisting
1.I Am Forever
2.Sandglass
3.Death No More
4.Clepsydra
5.Fenjaan
6.Bell Tower
7.Neheh
8.Timekeeper
9.Crux Ansata
10.Awakening
11.Chronoclasm
Members
Guitar / Vocals: Jake Mazlum
Bass / Vocals: Zakk Wells
Drums: Joe E. Allen
Review
Of Amer And Sand is the second full length album from UK Heavy Metallers Kurokuma and takes a daring creative turn compared to their celebrated 2022 debut album Born Of Obsidian. The bone-crunching and earth-shattering sounds have more volume to them which allows the music to have a destructive quality especially with the dual vocals of Jake Mazlum and Zakk Wells when they appear.
It seems Kurokuma are dabbling with the finer and dark arts of the Extreme Metal scene. They have a fearless creative and Alchemist attitude where they blend huge soaring sonic and Psychedelic Grooves that venture into areas of metal such as Drone, Sludge, Doom, Thrash and Stoner whilst also not being part of those movements either.
There is a wild abundance of Glitches and Ambient noise effects which are overlapped with Industrial beats and Eastern/Oriental themes which are absolutely crushing, violently aggressive and wholly original at the same time. You begin to feel that highly destructive and addictive energy with the epic opening tracks of I Am Forever, Sandglass and Death No More where Kurokuma starts to have hallucinogenic visions inspired by SHAMANIC attitudes, beats and rhythms which can be quite TRIBAL at times.
The record sees Kurokuma inspired by bands such as SEPULTURA, Mastodon, Neurosis and EARTH with similar creative cues appearing here and there on the later stages of the record. There’s deep philosophical ideas appearing with the lyrics and different vocal techniques that allows Kurokuma to drift further towards the Progressive Metal sound with heavy extended instrumental passages and harsh growls that add an extra layer of menace to the record.
Other standout tracks include: Clepsydra, Fenjaan, Neheh, Awakening and Chronoclasm which are my own personal favourite songs on the record. As they dare to be different with Kurokuma breathing new life into the many subgenres of Heavy Metal that Of Amber And Sand beautifully holds together.
Kurokuma are at the height of their creative powers with this record and have an intense and brilliant technical proficiency and ability which manifests into the heaviest, ferocious and nastiest grooves of their career to date.
Of Amber Of Sand sees Kurokuma crafting a whole new genre of heavy metal where only they reign wholly supreme with spectacular results throughout. This is a groundbreaking record in every sense of the word.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.
Of Amber And Sand will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Friday 09th August 2024.
Links
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