Kiritsis’ self-titled debut album (April 4th) is a relentless barrage of sludge and hardcore fury where pure Midwest rage and crushing sludge riffs meet hardcore aggression.
The debut is a vicious blend of doom-laden grooves and hardcore intensity that deliver a raw and unfiltered punch straight to the gut. Born from the Indianapolis hardcore and metal scenes, the band wastes no time making an impact by fusing crushing riffs with an unrelenting sense of hostility.
From the opening track “Knuckles,” the album sets a violent pace by locking into a punishing rhythm while the vocals tear through the mix like a wrecking ball. “Locusts” follows with a gnashing, metallic stomp, while “Pissant” barrels forward like a runaway freight train with its furious energy that is impossible to ignore.
The album’s longest track, “It Ain’t Easy,” slows things down, and I say that with a grain of salt, just enough to let the weight of each riff sink in as it drags one through a thick and oppressive atmosphere before ramping back into a pummeling assault. “Like The Taste” flips the script with its brief but explosive runtime by delivering an ass kicking of speed and hostility.
Closing tracks “Never Coming Home” and “Deny.Defend.Dispose.” offer no relief. They instead double down on the album’s sheer force. The unrelenting nature of these songs cements Kiritsis as a band that thrives on intensity, never allowing a moment of comfort.
With a pedigree rooted in bands like Trenches, Sundown, and Hatesong, Kiritsis bring a wealth of experience to their debut, crafting a record that feels immediate, dangerous, and undeniably heavy. This is sludge and hardcore at its most feral.
Artwork by Jacob Gardner
