Kvadrat - Ψυχική Αποσύνθεση EP

Something about the abyss staring back.

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on December 8th 2021)  

Despite its small size and general insignificance on the world stage, Greece has been a hotbed for metal bands through the years. Whether it’d be black metal icons like Rotting Christ and Varathron, or modern death metal titans Dead Congregation, the country has seen plenty of activity across multiple genres. Kvadrat is another worthy addition to the Greek metal canon, and they dabble in a genre that is not particularly common here, that being avant-garde blackened death. As such, I feel compelled to write about their EP, Ψυχική Αποσύνθεση, since it’s a rather interesting and unexpected release.

As one might’ve inferred, Kvadrat’s songwriting takes a lot of cues from bands like Gorguts and Deathspell Omega, with heaps of dissonance and technical acrobatics being used to concoct a suffocating atmosphere. The reverb-drenched guitar riffs ring out and cut through the mix, creating a feeling of desolation, all while the drums are constantly keeping busy and working with and against them, adding another layer to the chaos. Said drumming is arguably the highlight of the EP, to the point where I would almost say is drum rather than guitar driven. Multi-instrumentalist I.A. is omnipresent behind the kit, throwing multiple fills and cymbal changes that help keep the songs fresh and varied, especially on tracks like “Αποξένωση” (Estrangement) and “Λήθαργος” (Slumber), which manage to stay coherent despite their frantic transitions.

I would be remiss not to mention Pain’s vocal performance. He’s quite varied in his delivery, utilising both a raspy mid-range scream, as well as a low growl that serves as a counterpoint. He really adds to the oppressive feel of the music with how distant he sounds, as if you’re hearing his voice from the depths of a cave. The lyrics, as one might expect from a title that translates to “Mental Decomposition”, deal in death and nihilism, and all-around solemn themes, a perfect fit for the music.

While this is a top-shelf release for the avant-garde genre, I can’t say it didn’t leave me with a few minor complaints. First and foremost, the band does seem to fall into a bit of a songwriting rut at times, with every track having a minimalist instrumental break thrown in. While I do not mind their existence by default, they feel like a “We need to find something to fill the empty space” move when used improperly. That mentality is particularly noticeable on “Αποκοπή” (Severance), which spends a minute of its runtime early on trying to build ambience, grinding the pace of the song to a halt. It’s really disappointing because every other track makes far better use of said minimalism, as seen in the hollow ending of the title track.

The production, while generally quite good, also leaves a little something to be desired. The guitars have a sharp tone that’s really crisp, the drums are really punchy and perfectly audible, and all of that is drenched in reverb, which helps enhance the atmosphere. The mixing though is a slight sore spot for me, because while everything else is perfectly audible, the bass has been relegated to a primarily textural role and can mostly be felt, rather than heard. It’s a shame, because this style of music relies on dissonance, and a more prevalent bass helps add to that.

Ψυχική Αποσύνθεση is a promising, if a touch imperfect, release. The duo has already laid down some extremely solid foundation, and all that’s left is for them to build upon it. They can definitely carve out their own niche and form an identity of their own, distanced from their influences. They’re an undoubtedly worthy addition to the Greek metal canon, and I hope we get to hear more from them in the future.

Highlights: Αποξένωση, Λήθαργος

Rating: 87%