It’s every now and then that we can receive a body of work that perfectly encapsulates so much of what the modern state of the given style is capable of, and even that can take on many different forms. That could easily result in an album filled with tropes done well (see Acid Mammoth) or not so well (see any cookie-cutter black metal act), a general sound that meets the expectations of what we’ve come to expect from the style or something in between. When it comes to Kråkslott’s upcoming EP, it’s an enthralling mixture of both that works far too well for a mere 2-track EP.

Between the almost 20-minute runtime that “The Witchhammer” boasts in both of its songs, I cannot sit here and insinuate anything other than it being filled with absolute power and knowledge of what doom is capable of despite being from a band that hasn’t even been releasing material for more than two years now. Sure, that’s something that can and has been said about many other acts out there with you surely having a small list already in your head, but that doesn’t at all take away a shred of the power that’s on display here. Everything about “The Witchhammer” makes up that thick, riff-riddled, fog-wreathed doomy sexiness that so many of us are clamoring for while the rest of us feel immensely bored by because it’s “overdone”, and yet it’s the sheer power that Kråkslott commands with amazing ease that we see this EP transform itself from humble to commanding when it comes to its presence, essence, and performance! With a sludgy kick behind it all – because of course! -, the overwhelming awesomeness of “The Witchhammer” quite literally comes at us that can only be likened to a sawed-off shotgun which every facet being covered by such a comparison: shorter range but increased power and a hell of a punch with a lot of fire to go with it. Kråkslott has done what plenty others before them have done, there’s no contest in that statement, but they have accomplished what many before haven’t in that they did it spectacularly to the point where playing “The Witchhammer” for two hours on end was barely enough for me to get a proper fix of everything that it has to offer with even that just barely being enough to satisfy my craving for more Kråkslott.

Right now, I’m going to lay down the schematic for what I want to see Kråkslott do in the next few years, for they deserve nothing but the highest of anticipations. Their next release is to be at least 40-50 minutes of this sludge-tinged doom with riffs overflowing in every fucking second, art from the likes of artists glued to the world of doom like MontDoom, a solid cult of people to come with me to hear whatever that next opus will become, and maybe a hot and sexy vinyl pressing because my wallet doesn’t have a big enough hole in it yet. “The Witchhammer” has absolutely set the tone and the bar for what Kråkslott will do next, and I cannot help but feel extremely confident in saying that no matter what they’ll do it will be excellent on a level that will be deserving of so much more potential throughout the wider world of all that is doom with quality all but guaranteed. Of course, no pressure, lads!

“The Witchhammer” releases on February 27th!

LISTEN to Kråkslott on Bandcamp here.

LIKE to Kråkslott on Facebook here.