Of all the things that metal have brought forth in its many decades of existence, it’s the sheer breadth of variety that it boasts that has always fascinated me. It can oftentimes be the case that to take any two random bands in the underground and they will be wildly different in damn near every aspect, and that goes especially the same for any particular style with black metal far from an exception to that truth. As such, it can be simply bewildering to witness bands trying to do new things in a sound that can easily resist such change. Even in a year that has seen spectacular sights in such regard, Kir seeks to show us what can still be done in the waning days of the year.

Already is it a spectacular thing to witness a band trying their best to deliver glory the likes of which few can, but there are understandably few that can deliver on the premises they envision with the end-result not always living up to expectations. With Kir, however, I feel it’s safe to say there were no expectations given that this is quite the mysterious act that truly seems to thrive in the shadows were only the most devious of names reside. While there are many avenues that Kir could have taken in the crafting of “L’appel du Vide”, it’s evident in any of these five tracks that Kir wasn’t content with anything less than a full frontal assault complete with being flanked from precisely where you’re not looking and being routed. Undeniably black metal in the vast majority of its movements, “L’appel du Vide” is never once shy about pulling from other genres and styles to bring forth an experience that’s intense, cathartic, and always unfettered in how raw it is despite its refined aspects that come together for quite a spectacle that leaves more than a lasting impression. It’s from beyond the realms of black metal into those of doom, psychedelia, and death metal that Kir pulls from in order to bring forth such a visceral experience, and it’s at every turn the glory of such finesse with a wide array of tools can be seen and felt. Clearly capable of bringing together intensity and intricacies in such a way that feels cohesive and bombastic from start to finish, “L’appel du Vide” is anything but a stagnant, passive listen.

Always containing a layer deeper than what one would normally expect, Kir delivers an incredibly dense and engaging performance on all fronts to make this far more than a work of black metal that simply tries to ascertain some semblance of greatness. For all intents and purposes, “L’appel du Vide” is a creation that captures greatness with an iron fist and never once lets go.

“L’appel du Vide” releases on December 6th via Godz ov War Productions!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “L’appel du Vide” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Kir on Facebook here.