KITE is a Sludge Metal trio from Oslow, Norway. On March 27, 2020 they released their second full-length album entitled, "Irradiance." Although the band has experienced multiple line-up changes since their inception in 2007, the current line-up is the same as their 2018 EP, "The All Penetrating Silence." With that said, Ole Rokseth (SÂVER, HYMN) does provide additional moog synth on several of the tracks.

KITE started off as a side project for the band members and offered a break from their several other endeavors (DUNDERBEIST, STONEGARD, TOMBSTONES, JAQUANINE, SÂVER, etc.). Since 2007, however, the sidebar has taken on a more predominant role, like when you advance one of your alts to your main on that MMO that you spend way too much time on. They have been described as Sludge, Post-Hardcore, Post-Metal, and Modern Alternative Rock amongst others. Unless you're a music historian or metal elitist, you're probably thinking these labels are nonsense, and you would be exactly right. So, let's just move on.

"Irradiance" features seven tracks and spans just over 46 minutes. The texture of the album varies from atmospheric to experimental to frenetic . . . but always loud and always heavily distorted. Lyrically, who knows? I couldn't understand any two consecutive words and my online sleuthing skills, as impressive as they are (or not), turned up nothing. From the album cover and song titles I'd say maybe a supernatural, dark fantasy/sci-fi bent, which makes me even more motivated to get hold of the lyrics.

Musically this isn't an album you'll be playing at your next Covid19 virtual party. Or maybe you will. It has lots of mean edges, sharps and flats, discordant feedback, and redline distortion. Harmonies and melodies are at odds with one another and there are no traditional guitar solos. The vocal styling is essentially acid scarred and sounds like it hurts. Surprisingly, as harsh as some of the tracks get, the vibe never goes dark. All in all, it's an intriguing listen and bears repeating.

Standout tracks are "Blood Call Blood" for its sheer aggression and angst; "Reveries" because it's probably the heaviest track on the album while paradoxically having some of the mellowest breaks; and "Mistweavers" for its thick, viscid riffs and weird vocal harmonies. I should also mention that I love the role the bass plays on this album. From rattling your windowpanes to setting deep groove rhythms, Ole Christian Helstad will bruise your woofers on every track.

There was about 16 billion years between KITE's first album and their 2018 EP and then a scant year and a half between that EP and this release. We can only hope they'll stick to the more recent cadence. In the meanwhile, "Irradiance" offers up some unconventional metal for an unconventional age.