Krallice, consistently one of the most envelope-pushing acts in all of black metal (if not all of metal period), have premiered a killer new song, “Crystalline Exhaustion.”
Clocking in at a brisk 14+ minutes, “Crystalline Exhaustion” finds Krallice somehow continuing to break new ground — nearly half of the song goes by before the more “traditional” black metal elements kick in. And yet, the first half — which consists primarily of semi-ambient synths kinda in the vein of Tangerine Dream and some sparse, ominous bass — is every bit as hypnotic as the more aggro section. Not only that — the transition between the two feels completely organic. And as a bonus, I think this may be the first black metal song ever to feature what sounds like a xylophone? Feel free to tell me I’m wrong in the comments section, but I can’t think of another one off-hand.
ANYWAY, “Crystalline Exhaustion” is the title track from Krallice’s forthcoming eleventh studio album; I’m always stoked to hear new Krallice, but if the whole record is like this, I’m gonna be extra, super-duper stoked.
Listen to “Crystalline Exhaustion” the song below. Crystalline Exhaustion the album will be released digitally on January 28, and can be pre-ordered here. CDs, tapes, and shirts will follow on March 22 via P2 Records; pre-order those here. Gilead Media will release a vinyl edition sometime in the near future, but the date isn’t set yet (as you’re likely aware, the pandemic has done a real number on vinyl production).
Crystalline Exhaustion was produced by Colin Marston at Menegroth the Thousandth Cave in December of ’21. The album art is at the bottom of this post!
Krallice is:
- Mick Barr – bass/vocals
- Colin Marston – keyboards/additional drums/vocals
- Nicholas McMaster – guitar/vocals
- Lev Weinstein – drums
