It doesn’t take a genius to realize that Lovecraft has long had a hand in metal music even if his influence hasn’t been as great as someone like Tolkien. The sheer potential that one can have just by implementing some Lovecraft into their work is simply overwhelming at times with only the finest of acts being able to harness that potential into such a form that is nigh on compelling. Having proven to be masters at doing so for years now, The Great Old Ones need no introduction. Already showing off their mastery across four albums, it’s now after a long six-year silence that the cosmic force of overwhelming madness returns to us in such a form that is simply intoxicating to behold.

After a pretty constant release scheduled that saw The Great Old Ones put out four full-length albums in only seven years, it was a bit of a surprise to see the band take such a long studio break even given the events of the pandemic and related isolation, yet sometimes a break is what an act needs in order to either recharge its creative batteries, take that next step in their evolution, or both. The very concept of The Great Old Ones pursuing the next level of their sound is something that fans of the band should be well familiar with as the act has never been one to stagnate sonically, yet it is with everything that they’ve delivered within the expanse of “Kadath” that the band has arguably reached their highest peak yet. Writhing songwriting that is simply intoxicating to fall into as the rhythms cascade into one another and the levels of captivation are always kept at an undeniable high, it would be an understatement to say that The Great Old Ones has put forth arguably the first great and overwhelming performances that 2025 has already seen. It’s the kind of creation that words can only do so much justice in order to accurately describe. “Kadath” is an all-consuming performance that demands you to fully submerge yourself within its depths in order to commune with the very soul of the creation with The Great Old Ones always making damn sure that such knowledge is well worth the price of sanity.

Plenty have taken their hand at bringing forth Lovecraftian metal in such a form that can really bring to the table much of those themes and concepts, yet few have been able to do it like The Great Old Ones have become masterful at delivering with this newest effort arguably their most mature creation to date and nothing that should be passed up lest you miss out on an utterly splendid performance from every given angle. Enrapturing and no less than excellently crafted from top to bottom, “Kadath” is a work of dark wonder that demands to be heard in order to be believed.

LISTEN to “Kadath” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE The Great Old Ones on Facebook here.