Review: “Self Titled” by Kiritsis

Formed in 2024 by a group of musicians who had already left their left boot print firmly on the Indianapolis, Indiana Hardcore and Metal scenes, Kiritsis claim Sludge Fuelled Doom Metal with a sprinkling of Hardcore as their sound. Describing their songs as “sledgehammers of rebellion and bare-knuckled dissent” and “Entrenched in the proud tradition of Midwest and Rust Belt hardcore” the band, who unite members of Hatesong, Steed and Trenches, cite influences from the likes of Crowbar, Entombed and High On Fire. They recorded their self titled debut record at Holy Ground Productions with Kameron Lockwood and Wesley Heaton (Graveripper, Sundown, Demiricous), the later of whom also mixed and mastered…

A quartet with a clear vision, vocalist Bake Henry, guitarist Eric Mason, bassist Bill Scott and drummer Nik Jensen beat the discerning listener into submission with opening track “Knuckles“, a cut bookended by samples. In between those flow toxic rivers of filthy down tuned guitars with nasty chord progressions, dry throated raspy vocals and almost tribal drum patterns, setting a tone for an album that feels like a plague wind tearing through your ear canals. The undeniable groove of  “Locusts” continues the flow with increased intensity and a freer feeling in the dynamic as it plays out, Jensen’s creativity behind the kit something that rises to the fore with each repeated listen. The rumbling bass of “Pissant” is a nice touch, the four string getting plenty of limelight as a second rhythm guitar while Henry roars “You’ll gets what’s coming to you!“. Ugly, distorted and as venomous as a poisonous snake it maybe but there is also plenty of fun to be hand here with earworm riffs and headbangable groove. Make no mistake, these are tunes you want to raise a poison chalice to in paying respect to the band. “It Ain’t Easy” is arguably Kiritis at their most Crowbar, the unstoppable force of the Sludge Metal riffs having those distinctive old school tones as they slap you around Kirk Windstein style. If anything the song actually feels like a tribute to the New Orleans Louisiana legends, capturing a very similar energy while putting their own spin on the sound in blood and thunder fashion.

Throwing their bullets in the fire and running like hell, “Like the Taste” turns the flames into an inferno with an increase in tempo and intensity, the band diving from a six minute surpassing magnum opus to a sub two minute affair of Sludge tinged Hardcore that absolutely crushes. It’s an award winning formula from a band who know exactly what they’re doing and long may that continue. Introducing a sense of bleak despair “Thieves and Fools” is a brooding cut that builds a mountain from Post-Hardcore leaning moments into majestic Sludge Metal in the final moments. An absolute belter of a track, this works incredibly well, testament to time spent in the rehearsal space perfecting it. Blending eerie, haunting melody with crushing distorted riffs in perfect harmony, the defiant rage of “Never Coming Home” hits hard, that sense of impending doom drawing you in with the gravitational pull of a black hole. The mid tempo pacing builds a sense of tension that you can cut with a knife and that continues into the politically charged “Deny.Defend.Dispose.” in thunderous fashion. Mid cut leads swirl around the cathartic vent and haunt like her ghost in the fog as the spleen is laid to rest, the battery acid nausea of the atmosphere a masterstroke. You may not realise it at the time of your first listen, but you need this more than you know and with its weighty grit and integrity it will keep you coming back for more… [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Knuckles
2. Locusts
3. Pissant
4. It Ain’t Easy
5. Like the Taste
6. Thieves and Fools
7. Never Coming Home
8. Deny.Defend.Dispose.

“Self Titled” by Kiritsis is out 4th April 2025 via Wise Blood Records and Pout Records. It’s available over at bandcamp.