Review Summary: France unloads another particularly disgusting import
Karcavul opens their first recording with the sound of flies buzzing, presumably around a carcass or something equally putrid. This is definitely the most composed and tranquil moment of the release though. From this point of entry,
Rawctaver descends into a putrid downward spiral into a cave-like output as heavy as genre tags like “blackened sludge doom metal” will allow. Hyperbolic? Probably... but a release as extreme in concept and execution certainly calls for it. In fact, this is where Karcavul’s true lure lies. The difference between the failure of others and the success of
Rawctaver is in its oneness of mindset and aesthetic.
Karcavul never deviate from their path that aims only at gross heaviness via sludgy riffs and growls overflowing with feedback. The EP is perfectly aligned and this is the most obvious reason as to why it hits its target square in the jaw. The goal is simple: a devastatingly heavy EP of composed strictly of pounding cacophony that makes one’s insides decay. In short,
Rawctaver succeeds.
Sonically, the album is a product of strong influences; but they always feel purposeful. Even if the impact forebears like Eyehategod (in the ferocious vocal style) or Greif (chiefly in terms of structure and sheer intensity) are transparent; clearly the point here isn’t to be wowed by creative additions to the sound, it’s to be nauseated by the visceral soundscapes of contemptuous dissonance. The entirety is perhaps most reminiscent of Noothgrush, though, because the tracks are so primarily structured around the core backbone of heavy, plodding riffs and brach outwards in interesting flurries of dynamics. That being said, Karcavul can certainly change the tempo. For instance, on penultimate track “Culacl Rnael,” the threepiece infuses more technicality into the mix and speeds up to death-metal-ish pace, proving that they’re capable of more than simply plodding riffs.
Only time will tell Karcavul’s ability to truly sink in and infect others minds in as widespread a manner as they’re capable of; but influence over numbers aside, Rawctaver has some outrageous potency. Listen to
Rawctaver and feel your insides slowly die of hopelessness and defeat.
