Ketha “III-ia” CD

Debello Recordings seems to be an incredibly interesting and respectable label (not to mention an underrated one), as the Oklahoma-based enterprise boasts a killer visual aesthetic and an impressive roster of international bands that often seem to operate in this oddly top-shelf realm of chaotic and twisted metal/metalcore/whatever the fuck you want to call it. "III-ia", the debut full-length from Poland's Ketha, is the second such example I've encountered from the label—its eight tracks in just 32 minutes exploring a wide range of mangled riffing tactics and structural twists and turns rooted in an intense rhythmic foundation that occasionally brings to mind an infinitely more organic and dingily-textured Meshuggah, or even the math metal surges of the the almighty (and obscure) Eisenvater. It's just a really peculiar outing all around, spicing up the aforementioned rhythmic backbone with subtly jazzy drum work, gnashing chord phrasings and note combinations, noisy effects and clashing textures, and a variety of sparse vocal tactics that all tend to be relatively subdued within the mix. You could also compare certain moments to Gorguts with more breathing room, as if they were an Amphetamine Reptile act or something like that. It sounds bizarre, and it is... but in a good way! I feel stupid throwing out so many weird little loose comparisons that don't really make much sense on paper, but... trust me, I think you'll understand what I'm trying to get at when you hear this shit, and hopefully you'll see why it's so hard to get across what these cats are doing with words, ha. There's just something really fucked up and cool about this material, and I really respect that. Very curious, indeed.

Ketha "Izoid"

Get It

Debello Recordings