Year: 2021
Total Time: 25:51/51:39
Label: Independent/Metal Blade

A fresh proposal comes to us by KARDASHEV from Arizona with their new EP “The Baring Of Shadows”. Having started as a tech Deathcore band, release after release, they began to enrich their sound with melodies, progressive structures and elements from Post Metal, thus creating a style that a number of fans in the vast world of the internet called Deathgaze! But what gave a new dimension to the music of these Americans, was their singer Mark Garrett’s decision to use clean vocals apart from his brutal ones.

And oh gods, what a voice this guy has! I’d call it angelic, but I think that word is too little for that purpose. Imagine Einar’s clean vocals (LEPROUS) without the falsetto in mix with those of Devin Townsend but without his insanity. It’s just magical! And Garrett’s ability to transition from those wonderful vocals to blackened screams and low guttural is simply phenomenal.

The EP opens up with “A Frame. A Light”. Dreamy melodies on the guitar, create a warm atmosphere that is accompanied by a soft drumming in the background. An electric outburst takes us to Post Metal territories while Garrett’s clean vocals add to the beautiful climate of this introduction. Just before the 3-minute mark, the tempo slows down, and the vocals descend brutally low. A short Doom Death passage shatters the ground, before the band ventures back into more atmospheric pathways. The vocals become multi-layered with Garrett singing both in clean and black metal, giving another dimension to the sound of the Americans. And all of this while Nico Mirolla weaves these captivating post melodies on the guitar.

Next comes “Snow-Sleep”, the highlight of this EP and one of the best songs of the year. It’s one of those occasions where you wonder how Metal can evolve even more today, and BOOM, this little beauty emerges from the metallic aether and makes your jaw drop on the floor like an anvil! After a brief atmospheric inro, the band engages in a full-on attack with their sharp and precise technical blackened deathcore. As you pick up your brains from the floor, it all chills down, calm rules the air and the post melodies return. Garrett’s clean vocals embrace you and take you on a journey to places you’ve never been before. With an incredibly emotional performance over the melodies of Mirolla and the double bass of drummer Sean Lang, KARDASHEV create hair raising moments. For real, the chorus of “Snow-Sleep” is what will make you a fan of the band. The track is adventurous and encompasses blast beats and black metal screams with clean semi-operatic vocals as well as brutal deathcore break downs with Post Metal atmospheres.

The other two tracks that are found in this release are the atmospheric “Torchpassing” and the heavier “Heartache”. “Torchpassing” is filled with nostalgic melodies, dreamy vocals and two intense outbursts, where you can admire Garrett’s greatness as his voice overflows with emotion regardless of if he’s singing or screaming. “Heartache” is a dark slow Deathcore steamroller with a brilliant technical black/death metal middle part. Post rock melodies complement the song, which blend beautifully with the extreme face of KARDASHEV.

Depending on your taste, you can hear many bands in the music of this EP: OPETH, ISIS, AEGEAN, THE OCEAN, LEPOUS, CYNIC, LANTLOS, TESSERACT and a whole lot of other likeminded artists. The band is tight and musically flawless – there are moments where you could say these guys wander in the stratosphere of smooth Jazz! Their music consists of multiple layers and requires listens to discover everything, but that doesn’t mean it’s not easily accessible, as its melodies and Garrett’s wonderful vocals are capable of winning you over in the first place.

The band recently signed with Metal Blade and re-released “The Baring Of Shadows” with the addition of the instrumental versions of the songs.

My only complaint is how they will manage to deliver their so complex material live, especially the vocals. But, until we see them on the stage, I have to admit that KARDASHEV have made something unique, and I think they will definitely keep us busy for a long time to come. I look forward to their next release, where I hope it will be a full album!

PS1. It is worth visiting the band’s website, which offers information about every release of the band, from the concept of each song to details about equipment and production.

PS2. The band’s name, for those wondering, is taken by Russian astrophysicist Nikolai Kardashev.

Rating: 8/10
Editor: Dimitris Benetatos
Related Link: KARDASHEV – Official Page