Kilonova – Moment of Clarity

By RingMaster Review on May 24, 2023 • ( 0 )

Since emerging in 2018, KILONOVA has been on a keen ascent of the UK metal scene. Recently they uncaged their new EP, Moment of Clarity, a release which living up to its title commands a realisation that the Newcastle metallers are one of the most fascinating and exciting propositions around.

Our evidence for such a claim is openly nestled within their new five-track release, the EP a cyclone of voracious metal fury forged on the kiln of diversity craft and imagination. Moment of Clarity follows the band’s acclaimed 2019 debut EP, Omnicide, which cemented their already potent reputation forged in a live presence which just six months from their live debut saw KILONOVA playing the BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR FESTIVAL.

Born in the restraints of lockdown, Moment Of Clarity is a cauldron of voracious metal as we said bred in diversity. Alt, groove and thrash metal make up its heart as richly as heavy metal and progressive metalcore, every song within the release an unpredictable ravening of enterprise and predacious contagion led by the strikingly impressive tones of Ellen Hill.

The EP opens with Fragments, the track dawning on ears with melodic scintillation but within an atmosphere which already intimates menace and volatility. Indeed that disturbance only gathers pace as the song looms near, the guitar of Jonny Sloan squirting acerbic sonic vines as the rhythms of drummer Steve Rouse venomously pounce and the bassline of Joe Bambrick intimidates. Once in full aggressive stride with Hill’s vocals weaving captivation, the track harassed, bullied and seduced our lustiest attention, KILONOVA quickly revealing their imagination and individuality of songwriting and invention whilst immersing emotions in intimate anguish.

There is a touch of VNDTA to some tracks but a mere scent to KILONOVA’S unique tempest which is just as merciless and compelling within next up Burned At The Stake. With senses trapping grooves winding round ears and Rouse’s punishing beats, the track in quick fashion similarly pulled us right in, the antipathy in Hill’s breath as much a tonic for the senses as her melodic prowess with a similar creative liquor as aflame within the cauldron-esque heart of the track. An unrelenting nag of a song, it hungrily continues the outstanding start and creative trespass of the EP, the band’s imagination even more frantic and again gripping the passions within the following Leeches and Parasites which spends its opening seconds antagonistically jabbing at the senses before unleashing a thrash kilned chugging which soon evolves into an atmospherically threatening and creatively agile proposal. Again though, every moment brings a new twist of unpredictable and compelling enterprise, every cycle adding its own invention to strengthen the trap and escalate our engagement.

We have to say that if the first three songs were a pinnacle that the remaining pair did not come close to we would still be waxing lyrical about Moment of Clarity but rest assured that Fruit Of The Poisoned Tree equally deeply stirred instincts and lust into action with its emotional turbulence and creative cyclone. It’ seductive eye of the storm moments revelled in the harmonic prowess of Hill, her siren moments as powerful and captivating as her animosity fuelled assaults.

Equally, Bleed By Example blistered and beguiled the senses on its way to seizing favourite track choice. It is a glorious harassment of creative savagery pursuing the senses with predatory intent around moments of dervish like enterprise. Accusation and irritability soak every aspect of the song, even its webs of ravenous virulence and atypical progressive imagination are thick in toxicity; yet the result is sonic poetry of creative violence and emotive dispute.

That is a description which fits Moment of Clarity as a whole, the EP easily one of the years finest and most exhilarating incitements so far.

Moment of Clarity is out now; available https://kilonova.bandcamp.com/album/moment-of-clarity , Spotify and other stores.