KENODROMIA "Black Swan Songs" EP 2026
Drammen, Norway
Label: none
A wonderfully atmospheric deep dive into the dark depths of doom metal and stoner rock. The band skillfully navigates the canons of heavy psychedelia, crafting music that sounds archaic yet remarkably fresh—an approach that comes off exceptionally cool.
The instrumentalists have done a stellar job of building a dense, tangible sound. The rhythm section functions like a finely tuned machine, driving an incredible groove. The guitar work immediately captures your attention: moderately harsh yet viscous riffs crash over the listener in heavy, cyclical waves, and it works brilliantly. Rather than crushing you, this riff structure envelops you, leaving plenty of room for slow-burning, melodic passages that inject a much-needed breath of air into the massive sonic wall.
Hilde Chruicshank’s vocal performance unfolds spectacularly against this instrumental foundation, serving as the main emotional conductor of the release. She masterfully controls the mood, seamlessly shifting from near-ritualistic chanting to powerful, clean vocals filled with an almost tangible sense of underlying drama. Rather than getting buried beneath the thick layer of guitar fuzz, her vocal lines soar above it, lending the tracks a dark elegance and a distinct noir aesthetic.
Black Swan Songs is a cohesive, expertly constructed work. Instrumental heaviness and vocal sophistication merge into an ideal symbiosis here that fans of the genre will thoroughly enjoy.
