Band:	Kvadrat
Album:	The Horrible Dissonance Of Oblivion
Style:	Black metal, Death metal
Release date:	April 2024

01. Υπόγειος Λαβύρινθος
02. -4°C
03. Σηπτική Ανυπαρξία
04. Αμνησία
05. Γυάλινα Μάτια
06. Η Φρικτή Δυσαρμονία Της Λήθης
07. Ολική Αποσύνθεση

Kvadrat will drag you into the disturbing depths of dissonant, blackened death metal… and will probably keep you trapped in a tight box, kvadrat, or something. Hey, at least you'll have excellent metal to keep you company!

Kvadrat is a one-man band or, rather, a one-man army from Greece. Ivan Agakechagias, the mastermind behind this project, is credited for all the instruments, the vocals, the recording, the mixing, the cover art, and even the animation of the fittingly nightmarish music video for the album's opening song.

As the title of Kvadrat’s debut studio album proclaims, The Horrible Dissonance Of Oblivion is a 44-minute descent into the blackest depths of musical terror. Specifically, Kvadrat play a dissonant mixture that combines the unforgiving heaviness of death metal and the chilling atmosphere of black metal. The vocals, besides occasional blackened rasps, are mainly delivered in a powerful, deep-throated way, sounding at times like a shaman summoning a Lovecraftian monster with sinister liturgies. As the guitar riffs intertwine, the music produces a swirling vortex of disharmonious harmonies. In perfect dissonant black metal fashion, Kvadrat straddle the line between cacophony and haunting beauty—a subtle musical approach that might not be immediately digestible for every listener. But, those in the audience with more experience in destructive and twisted blackened death metal should be very much pleased by Kvadrat’s performance and captivating songwriting.

Whether it's unnerving ambience on “Υπόγειος Λαβύρινθος” (“Underground Labyrinth”), the aggressive rampage of “-4°C” (who knew someone could get so mad about barely freezing temperatures, huh?), the melancholic instrumental interlude “Αμνησία” (“Amnesia”), or the multi-faceted, epic concluding track “Ολική Αποσύνθεση” (“Total Decay”), Kvadrat’s music seems to be steeped in palpable emotions of fear and suffering, crafting an enthralling atmosphere from beginning to end. As I allow myself to be enraptured by the combination of chilling Greek song titles, claustrophobic cover art, chthonic growls, mesmerizing guitar-work, and maddening drum beats, my imagination roams to those dark places where the mind ought not to venture.

Now, Kvadrat aren’t the first to try their hands at some dissonant blackened death, and I'd say they sound overall like a combination of Deathspell Omega, Suffering Hour, and Venomous Echoes. So, if you're a fan of any of those bands, you should have an absolute blast with this album-of-the-year contender. Moving forward, I hope Kvadrat can create more of the same. Already on their debut full-length album, they have established a really solid style that could go a long way, I believe. Thus, I'm already anxious for the next batch of Greek hymns from the abyss. But, while we wait, how about you join me as I plunge back into the darkest depths of insanity—The Horrible Dissonance Of Oblivion beckons me.