With spoken word poetry recitations comparable to Allen Ginsberg’s Howl and strong emphasis on immense existential dread, KEN Mode returns with their newest studio album VOID, released via Artoffact Records, the band’s ninth studio album.
The genre spectrums that KEN Mode are in have always varied, ranging from noise rock to post-Hardcore to sludge, but on VOID, they experimented with an even more diverse range of soundscapes, which results in elements of even more varied genres such as post-rock, math, and even a bit of post-punk. The discourse regarding isolation became a major theme in the creative process of KEN Mode’s songwriting whilst working on VOID– to the point where the issue also branches out towards the struggle of being and existing, as well as existential nihilism.
Opening track “The Shrike” is an immense scream for help, where they envisage a declaration of dejection. Being heavy on distortions, the nuances of the track would instantly remind the listeners of acts like Drive Like Jehu and Queens of the Stone Age. There are also tracks like “Not Today, Old Friend” that leans on to the desolate post-Rock tendencies comparable to Slint, as well as tracks like “We’re Small Enough” that features a generous amount of synths and post-Punk atmospheres.
“These Wires” opens with a spoken word poetry recitation, as stated before, and appears rather post hardcore-esque, meanwhile “A Love Letter” is on the rather sludgy side of the genre spectrum. VOID encompasses such varied soundscapes and musical styles, indeed– but to me, the overall verdict of this album is that it sounds rather Deathwish-esque; almost like a more sludgy and noise-inclined version of Converge. It’s an interesting passage for those who are looking for metallic noise rock acts with a mixture of everything all at once, and of course, existential themes.
KEN Mode has always been profound in expressing trenchant melancholy through their songs, and on this release they viscerally managed to pull it off again. It’s like an embodiment of the despair they have felt throughout the years due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, the disappointment and deep-rooted melancholy they felt manifested into the purest harsh cacophony in a form of two-album arc.
Buy the album here:
8 / 10
RALKA SKJERSETH