From Bandcamp, “Wise Blood Records and Pout Records present the debut album from Indianapolis sludge degenerates KIRITSIS. Freshly formed in 2024, they blend doom and hardcore into a bruising and groove-laden sound. From the first roar to the final uppercut of distortion, this debut is a brawl of crushing riffs and defiant rage.” The album has eight songs, and “Knuckles” is first. Spoken word opens the song, and the riff that drops is as weighted and heavy as anything I have heard this year. It’s fuzzy, cavernous, and punishing. The production is a bit on the muted side, but it takes some of the sting out of the harsh vocals.

“Locusts” moves forward with a brutal mid-tempo riff, and as a listener, it makes you feel like you are covered in a thick black ooze that you can’t shake. Some of the shouted vocals help the song to straddle a few different genres…Hardcore notwithstanding. “Pissant” has another “take no prisoners” sound, and the band isn’t fucking around. Meaty bass notes accompany the tortured vocals and weighted riffing. Who was it that said riff based Metal was fading again? “It Ain’t Easy” is the first reprieve that we get from the thick, sludgy sound. It begins with clean guitars, and some tension, which is thwarted when the open note riff drops. The torture continues until the pain is too much to bear.

“Like the Taste” is a quick two-minute blast that reminds me of the BLACK FLAG brand of Punk music. From there, sludgy tones take over until you are literally dripping them. “Thieves and Fools” paints an absolute desolate picture of loneliness, isolation, and frigid temperatures. If you can survive this, you can survive nearly anything. Each riff note seems to drive the proverbial nail deeper into your coffin, and you can smell death. “Never Coming Home” is another devastating offering. The band’s unilateral approach could come off as too simple for some, but there are certainly times where less is more.

“Deny. Defend. Dispose.” Is, if course, the taught call words for health care workers to deny people’s claims. Thick bass notes lead off the song, with drums in tow, followed by another brutal riff and harsh vocals. The backing tones sound very evil. Overall, this is an example of how powerful no bones, no punches pulled, straight up Sludge Metal can be. The riffs aren’t overly complicated, and the vocals make the point…shut up, or I am going to stick my whole fist down your throat.