If you seek for true beauty beyond Austria, a country in the heart of Europe with countless unexpected scenic places, KRINGA’s latest effort, “All Stillborn Fires, Lick My Heart,” has something you can’t refuse. Their Black Metal approach will take you to a certain place you’ve never dared to imagine. A flawlessly designed Black Metal realm that stems from the very foundation of this genre, which is the ecstasy of misanthropy, old-fashioned hate, esoteric elitism, and the inevitable dissolution. What’s amazing is that after 13 years of existence on this material plane, this Austrian darkest quartet can still echo their inescapable extreme music with an erratic and traditional artistic vision in a sophisticated manner. That impenetrable darkness from their sophomore album is an absolute proof that this band is something you should worry about. The first two tracks, ‘Across The Firmament, Stride!’ and ‘Gardens In Bloom’, sounded like a tribute to Black Metal’s most peerless heart. Both are very delightful and powerful opening songs to enter the black gate of KRINGA. The dash of nasty Punk structure combined with manic screams will leave everyone in awe. They have an otherworldly quality to them. As if being disturbing in distorted soundscapes isn’t enough for them, the vocal howls contribute to the thundering riffs to add an enormous dose of negative atmosphere that we’ve all been yearning for in the Black Metal scene for years. The tension mounts in the third and fourth tracks. ‘Ablution’ directly sets the album off with an explosive maelstrom of violence. Its stellar dimension is integrated with pleasing melodies that enrich the dark desire they wanted to bring to the table. The following harmony in ‘Labyrinth Heirs’ once again shows their signature. The devilish blueprint of traditional and yet phenomenal Black Metal beats that are intelligently constructed with slight Punk hints here and there. Those ingredients keep the momentum going and never throw them off their game or cause them to fall into monotony. The next two are ‘Vortex Of Stillborn Fires’ and ‘Improvisation N.A.4.7.’ which are guided by an expansive and sickening discomfort that is strangely addictive, particularly song number six of this album. The phaser attack successfully disrupts the emotional complications, if that is the intention. The more you hear the singing part, the more you can’t really handle the impression. Sometimes the feeling is like being intoxicated by an apocalyptic poetic madness of sound that is sung by a lunatic grave digger. Saving the best for last, ‘Yoke Of A Mirror Shard’, and to paraphrase T.S. Eliot, “This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a ferocious old school Black Metal banger.” The amount of furious speed through short, tight, unrelenting classic riffing is compelling. Having said that, KRINGA is undeniably the stronghold for eclectic Black Metal in the present and future. They have exceeded expectations with their debut album, “Feast Upon The Gleam”, that was released in 2019, and the last three EPs. Their new album can be interpreted as the continuation of their previous explorations while also breaking through barriers beyond the gate of Metal. If you haven’t heard “All Stillborn Fires, Lick My Heart” yet, you better set your expectations high for Black Metal, because KRINGA is one of the rare entities in the scene. Listen to their most recent work by following the following links: www.facebook.com/theblazeofkringa, www.facebook.com/terraturpossessions