When you mention Krisiun to someone familiar with the scene, you might not get too many responses, but the ones you do hear are likely to be: Brazil, Death Metal, Zero Compromise.
Looking back, since 1990 (except for a brief period when they were four members), Krisiun has come as three brothers, and for quite some time now, they have been regarded as one of Brazil’s proudest metal acts. Those who know, know.
The main reason behind this is, as mentioned above, the band’s uncompromising approach to their craft. Seeing how this unwavering attitude blends with experience in their new album Southern Storm is impressive, but honestly, considering it’s Krisiun, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
Krisiun’s previous album Assassination was indeed a quality release, but it is a fact that many Krisiun fans were not happy with it. The concerns were about the band possibly changing their direction and not delivering anything better than what they had done before. Looking back at that album now, especially alongside Southern Storm, more positive aspects can be found.
So, let’s make a clear transition to Southern Storm, their seventh and currently latest album.
The album consists of 13 tracks and runs about 50 minutes, making it the longest and most track-rich album in Krisiun’s discography. For production, the band worked again with Andy Classen. The recordings took place in Germany at a studio called “Stage One,” and the album was distributed by Century Media Records.
If you know Krisiun, you’re also aware of how exceptionally fast they are. The band’s drummer Max Kolesne’s occasionally unconventional drumming style, combined with the amazing riffs played over the drums by Moyses Kolesne, forms the foundation of Krisiun’s sound. This is fully valid for this album as well. The “southern storm” that starts from the very first song doesn’t let up or stop until the last track.
But is the entire album just about speed? Of course not... At this point, the qualities that differentiate this album from any other Krisiun record come into play.
One immediately noticeable example is the fourth track, Minotaur, with its eastern-inspired melody and heavy atmosphere. And that’s not the only one. Take Contradictions Of Decay — its intro, riffs, and solo can easily captivate any listener.
In short, there’s nothing on the album that makes you think “what is this?” but many small, thoughtful innovations — which might be new only for Krisiun’s music — have been subtly woven in, enhancing the overall taste of the band’s sound.
Speaking of solos, it’s definitely worth emphasizing them. Moyses Kolesne doesn’t particularly spotlight the solos except for a couple of moments, but considering the band’s style and general sound, he still delivers a great performance. If you manage to detach yourself from the storm and focus on the solos, you’ll hear some truly “disconnected” sounds.
Besides... Actually, there isn’t much else to say. I leave the rest for you to discover.
As I said above, Krisiun’s music remains the same. This shouldn’t be seen negatively as “there’s nothing new.” It’s an album full of brand-new and solid compositions, Southern Storm.
Also, right in the middle of the album, there’s a fantastic cover of a Sepultura song. This has become a tradition for Krisiun, and it remains intact on this album as well. The cover is truly excellent, adding another dimension to the whole.
Furthermore, for those curious, it’s worth noting that you get to listen to these rock-solid compositions with very good recording quality on this album. I really appreciate this choice because it’s essential to fully grasp the emotion behind the band’s music. Otherwise, focusing on the speed and brutality would probably be more difficult.
So, if we come to the final and key point... We mentioned the combination of experience and uncompromising attitude.
“How?” you ask. After reading all these lines, just listen to the album once from start to finish. That’s all there is to it.