Review: “The Cult of Kariba” by Carach Angren

A Symphonic Black Metal act specializing in tales of ghosts, historical legends, hauntings and horror, Carach Angren have blazed a trail from the southern province of Limburg, Netherlands to the bowels of hell itself since 2003. Five years after their last taped confession “Franckensteina Strataemontanus“ they return with “The Cult of Kariba“, a five part story rooted in the folklore of Schinveld’s White Lady, now entwined with the sinister figure of Kariba: a poisoner and alleged witch. From an underground cult’s rituals and a brutal sacrifice, the resurrection of Kariba is followed by catastrophic vengeance as the witch claims the living for her grave. Mixed and mastered by Patrick Damiani (Secrets of the Moon, Infinite Wisdom, Abstract Rapture) at Tidal Wave Studio in Germany as well as featuring session drummer Gabe Seeber (Vale of Pnath, Decrepit Birth, Abigail Williams), violinist Nikos Mavridis (Clemens Wijers, Dark Affliction, The Rose of Lilith), voice overs from Tim Wells and even a wolf howl by Frodo Wijers, its time for a dark new dawn from masterminds Ardek and Seregor…

Introduction piece “A Malevolent Force Stirs” is a dance macabre of cinematic grandeur as Tim Wells sets the scene with a voice over with the qualities of something from Sir Michael Caine. On first listen it sends a shiver down the spine before “Draw Blood” bursts into flames with an opening barrage of riffs that take a leaf from the book of Fear Factory and Dino Cazares. Those soon burst into flames of Symphonic Black Metal as the fierce vocals swirl demonically, the powerful orchestrations that accompany them utterly majestic. The intense flames then die down for a melodic break accompanied by violins before rising once more with an icy piano accompaniment which brings to mind the Extreme Metal of Cradle Of Filth as the band tear flesh from bone with the repeated cries of the song title.

The epic grandeur continues with a piano introduction to “The Resurrection of Kariba“, a telling of an occult ritual that is almost an occult ritual in its own right. Rampaging guitars and rich orchestrations give the song a real pomp and circumstance, the gripping nature of Seregor’s vocal performance utterly spellbinding. Seeber’s performance at the drum stool is an important cog in the wheel of this machine, he nails his performances throughout providing the spine for everything to hang from. Proving that variety is the spice of life there are Industrial Metal overtones in “Ik Kom Uit Het Graf” (or “I Came Out Of The Grave“) which flirts with inspirations from the likes of Rammstein but without the concrete slab like guitars. Instead this one is the kind of madness that belongs on the soundtrack to the next Saw movie with depth and texture from the orchestrations adding warmth to the cold drums, synths and guitars. The sand timer is turned on its head with “Venomous 1666“, a return to the earlier scripture with vicious vocals in English, driving guitars and flamboyant orchestrations. Mavridis violin solo parts add a real richness to the onslaught, the restless and relentless drumming creating a tornado of souls for Ardek and Seregor to prey upon, leaving this a triumphant return from an Extreme Metal act worthy of note… [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. A Malevolent Force Stirs
2. Draw Blood
3. The Resurrection of Kariba
4. Ik Kom Uit Het Graf
5. Venomous 1666

“The Cult of Kariba” by Carach Angren is out 17th October 2025 via Season of Mist, and is available over at bandcamp