Kurokuma Set Aug. 9 Release for Of Amber and Sand; New Song Streaming
You can hear the burgeoning individualism of approach in Kurokuma‘s new single “I Am Forever,” which doubles as the opening track of their upcoming second LP, Of Amber and Sand, due out Aug. 9, and it’s as much evident in the patterning of the vocals and the insistence of the rhythm as it is in the baglama solo and percussion in the song’s second half. They’re not kidding when they talk about it being influenced by death metal, but the groove is sludge-born as well, and as the sub-five-minute run of “I Am Forever” hits into its finish, I’m left wondering how the rest of the record might flesh out around the atmosphere of this opening track. So yes, the single does its job as an interest-piquing teaser, for me anyhow.
Kurokuma‘s debut, Born of Obsidian, came out in 2022, and they were a band for almost a decade before that. They seem to have had some changes around their general circumstance, geography, etc., but they seem to be refining their take on extremity melded with a capital-‘h’ Heavy modus. Preorders are up and the song’s streaming at the bottom of this post. You know what to do.
Have at it:
KUROKUMA ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM “OF AMBER AND SAND”
Pre-order now: https://kurokumauk.bandcamp.com/album/of-amber-and-sand
Vicious psych trio, Kurokuma brought a fresh heaviness to the extreme music scene in 2022 with their debut album, ‘Born of Obsidian’. In August the genre-mashing threesome will return with their new record, ‘Of Amber and Sand’.
But it’s not sludge, it’s not doom, it’s not death metal. It’s Kurokuma.
While their Sanford Parker-recorded debut, ‘Born of Obsidian’ dug deep into the ancient history of Mesoamerican civilisations, ‘Of Amber and Sand’ is based on the colossal concept of time, each track dealing with a different facet of temporality and eternity, probing its significance to creation, civilisation and the human experience.
Musically, the band have drawn influence from the instruments, melodies and rhythms of the Middle East/Balkans on this release. Guitarist and vocalist, Jake Mazlum explains:
“In terms of my own relationship with the new musical elements, it’s complicated. I’m an Orthodox Christian from the Muslim world, an immigrant to the UK, and a more recent immigrant to the Balkans, where ironically I feel like I fit in culturally more than anywhere else. Much of my family is ethnically Armenian but now resides in Turkey, where I spent the first few years of my life there.
My relationship with these ‘ethnic’ musical styles is a mix of appreciation for what they are, a familiarity due to their imposition in my life in various ways, and a very conscious detachment from the cultures, places and values that – like all art – deeply informs them.”
‘I Am Forever’ is the first single to be shared from the album with drummer Joe Allen stating, “this track is a mantra on meditation that opens up this concept album on time. We challenged ourselves to write something that worked even with repeated lyrical phrases, so it truly felt like a mantra. Jake had been listening to a lot of Nailbomb and Korn for the riffs, and then our mate, Babak stepped up with a blazing baglama solo. It starts off the album with a bang.”
The geographical influences, as well as the subject of time are combined and reflected in the album title; ‘Of Amber and Sand’ is a metaphor the band came up with, fleshed out and visualised in the artwork by Sheffield illustrator, Mila K.
Here ‘sand’ and its abundance represents infinite time, while ‘amber’ represents one moment – amber is known for capturing insects and preserving them. Joe explains:
“The mantis trapped in amber on the cover, it’s been there potentially millions of years, preserved and unmoving while civilisations have come and gone. Species have been born into being, evolved and become extinct – yet this mantis is frozen in that one pose. A snapshot relic of the past to be admired throughout history. This motif sums up a lot of what the album is about.”
‘Of Amber and Sand’ is a much more ‘metal’ and muscular album in comparison to their debut – one that feels faster and more urgent, taking nods from a variety of artists ranging from Nailbomb, Morbid Angel and System of A Down to Omar Souleyman, Barış Manço and the genre of dabke. Joe adds:
“We made a conscious effort to get a ‘real’ sound on this recording. We wanted to avoid any over-production and use of triggers and samples where possible. Saying that, we do think the sound is a big step up from Born of Obsidian.”
Originally active from 2014, the band have been based in the UK up until now, but 2024 sees them very much operating internationally, with only bassist Zakk still residing in the UK. With Jake relocating to Bulgaria, Joe is living as a digital nomad, currently in Albania. He adds that Kurokuma is still very much a band but that “this lifestyle choice was driven in part by wanting to avoid burning out on doing the same things over and over as a UK-based band, and as a promoter. I wanted to get away and see some more of the world, but making this album happen has proven we can still function as Kurokuma while all in different places.”
After the release of ‘Born of Obsidian’ in 2022, Kurokuma went on to perform at Desertfest London, Brutal Assault in the Czech Republic and Damnation Festival, as well as touring Central Europe.
Recorded at Stuck On A Name in Nottingham with Boulty, ‘Of Amber and Sand’ is self-released by the band on 9th August and is available on CD, vinyl and digitally.
Pre-order now: https://kurokumauk.bandcamp.com/album/of-amber-and-sand
Tracklisting:
1. I Am Forever
2. Sandglass
3. Death No More
4. Clepsydra
5. Fenjaan
6. Bell Tower
7. Neheh
8. Timekeeper
9. Crux Ansata
10. Awakening
11. Chronoclasm
Kurokuma are: Jacob Mazlum (guitar/vocals), Joe Allen (drums), Zakk Wells (bass/vocals)
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