Kraken Duumvirate is described as an experimental black metal band, but this EP is more than just experimental black metal. Firstly, unlike most other experimental or avant-garde black metal, The Astroglyphs of the Ritual Deluge does not strike me as being a challenging listen at all. Well, maybe it is challenging in the sense that it will probably test the patience of those who like their music to have lots of things going on. The three tracks on the EP are slow, lumbering, heavy, oppressive and full of dark ambience with heavy simple drumbeats (which I suspect may be programmed), digitally processed slimy vocals and dark atmospheric keyboards. The style could perhaps be described as a sort of post-black/post-doom metal. From doom metal, it inherits the heavy beats and droning nature, and from black metal, it inherits the ethos of emphasis on repetition – and of course both genres contribute to the overarching feel of cold bleakness. The emphasis on repetition is probably the most challenging aspect of this release, as the 18 minute title track contains long passages of a few guitar figures repeated numerous times. The impatient listener should probably stay away from this release, but the patient listener will soon realize the intended effect on this type of music – namely, to bring the listener into a trance, and with its ominous and repetitive nature, The Astroglyphs of the Ritual Deluge completely succeeds in this respect.
Track Listing:
1. I Channel
2. The Astroglyphs of the Ritual of Deluge
3. Sacrifice Me
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