Aside from its unusual tittle “III-III,” this album has a remarkable story. It’s always a pleasure to review an album full of stories because, I guess, it makes it more meaningful. It also means Kromlek are a band of an interesting story as well fruit of their musical evolution as a band.
First of all “III-III” is a double album. Well, the first part, entitled “III-III,” is a collection of their latest compositions created over the past decade. These tracks were carefully produced at the Antric Light Records studio and mastered in 2024. The second part, “Upphaf,” offers a comprehensive retrospective of the band’s history. Here, selected pieces are reworked, recorded, and produced anew to impressively document Kromlek’s musical evolution. It’s very interesting to the fan to listen to its musical evolution and realise
While their last album “Finis Terræ” (2011) dealt with the end of the world in various layers of meaning and interpretation, “III-III” turns to origins and beginnings, exploring the spiritual cosmos of pre-Christian philosophy and worldview. Musically, this journey is wrapped in powerful, Heavy Pagan Metal, enriched with elements from Melodic Death Metal to Black Metal.
My dear child of the night who will lsten to the will notice that it is made of many moments. The moods in the tracks vary a lot and it’s possible to realize – to some extent – they are from different albums and moments of the band. Well, it’s expected from a band with a long career. Even though, there are constants features in their music. One of them is the vocal duets done all the album. They are of harsher voice following Death Metal vocal rules and another harsher, but following Black Metal vocal rules. That means a lot of sarcasm and some demonish vocals. The drumming stands out as well being very prominent all around the band’s career. Sometimes the srumming is a little more intense; other times, fast and furious, but always prominent and making a stand into the music.
As Kromlek‘s music is always changing, so are the guitars. It’s by them my dear child of the night might realize the genre’s changes and movement. It’s them that give the tone. They can be melodic and intense full of nuances as Melodic Death Metal requires; they can also be fast and minimal as Black Metal has a tendency to; with other folk instruments when the band dives into Folk Metal waters.
So, above, besides being a trip along Kromlek’s career, “III-III” is also a lesson on how a band goes evolving along the time. It’s also possible to have a glimpse of Metal music movements aroud the years. Well, a mandatory album to any metalhead.
Kromlek’s “III-III” was released on November 15th via Trollzorn Records.
Track Listing:
“III – III”
- Þursöld I – Gigantenwelle
- Þursöld II – Seismonade
- Þursöld III – Nunatak
- Ek, Gangleri
- Totem Tales I – I tidevarvet av u
- Totem Tales II – aRktur
- Totem Tales III – AlgyR
- Strandhögg pt. IV – Ráns Schattenpass
“Upphaf” - KromleK
- Träskens Näve
- Strandhögg pt. I – Drachen im Nebel
- Strandhögg pt. II – Gefolgschaft der Gezeiten
- Herjan
- Grim Omens
- Mantikor
- Moritvrvs Immortalis
Watch “Þursöld I – Gigantenwelle” official lyric video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!