The second full-length of German quartet KARKADAN was a real surprise to me. On Utmost Schizophrenia the band has managed to improve uncannily. These guys truly made a big leap. To reach their goal they did not abandon their trademarks or their roots, not at all, they just elaborated their style and worked out everything musical wise. The result is one of the best local metal CD’s this year.
The band itself describes its style as black heavy metal, since they range between black metal and heavy metal without getting limited in any way. Well, I generally agree, whereas I stylistically get remind of recent Thy Serpent stuff, who likewise were hardly to categorise, but have made terrific music (maybe exactly ‘coz of that). Ok, concerning deeply sad melodies and an unbelievable melancholy, the Finns are a short head ahead. But KARKADAN are close to them. In return they are a tad more rocking and more head-banging compatible, which should be a good thing for live activities.
Already opener Passing Away is the first highlight, to get followed by On Your Knees, which is even stronger. Convincing with cleverly used acoustic parts, melodic yet heavily riffing guitars right in your face and well-set breaks, that do not sound banal and still keep the awesome atmosphere. Afterwards with Faint the pendulum gets significant swings into the black metal area with rapidly tightening pace. Massive and – for my taste kitschy – keyboards as used on the debut got explicitly lowered and only play a noteworthy role in the already known song The Journey.
With Sea Of Bitterness this outstanding album gets closed way too soon. The production is transparent and crispy and singer Robby Beyer appears as one of the most experienced death metal growlers.
To come to an end I would like to honour this fulminant progression with fat 8 points and warmly recommend Utmost Schizophrenia to all of you!