Review: “X” by KRVVLA

They say that idle hands are the Devil’s workshop but the work of Belarusian Dissonant Post Black Metal band KRVVLA could be considered created in the very bowels of hell. They have been nothing short of prolific, their burning funeral pyre of inspiration leading them to offer up a colossal four EPs as well as a debut album over the past four years.

Each one of those has been a complex and obscure combination of raw Black Metal and dissonance and this affair on no different. Gripping and oppressive atmospheres with raw dark cinematic qualities and a frenzy of riffage are the order of the day, part Post-Hardcore, part Blackened Shoegaze and yet all Black Metal fury. The introduction of vocals for the first time is a welcome addition, although the band never needed a other dimension to their caustic, bitingly cold and oppressive sound, the maelstrom of despair with the confines of their brand of evil speaks for itself. Longer cuts like “XIII” benefit greatly from the work of Colin Marston (Gorguts, Krallice) from behind the mixing desk who has given the controlled chaos the perfect balance so the thunderstorms of percussive battery play out alongside the abrasive guitar work in a more natural harmony than you might get elsewhere. By not giving the songs titles beyond numbers, the band effective encourage the listening to of “X” as a whole entity rather than listening to stand out moments in subdivision and for the most part, these cuts flow into each other creating one continuous raging monstrosity that knows no end. However, if there was one cut to listen to get a taste for this it would be “XV”, which features a guest vocal appearance from Ksenia Kundenko of Supruga. It captures the full breadth of what the this outfit have to offer in one bite sized piece of pie but don’t sell yourself short and miss out of the waves of intricate madness inducing violence this has to offer. It comes in waves of viceral darkness and within its beating black heart only death awaits [7.5/10]

Track listing

1. XI
2. XII
3. XIII
4. XIV
5. XV (ft. Ksenia Kundenko from Supruga)
6. XVI
7. XVII
8. XVIII

“X” by Krvvla is out 4th February 2022 via Brucia Records