The use of cultural elements in heavy music is, by now, a pretty familiar concept with a plethora of bands, ethnicities, and nations bringing such into their sound, whether conceptually or through unique instrumentation, techniques or structures. Very few bands do so quite so vividly and entirely as Greek progressive metallers Raw In Sect have done, however. With a starkly ever-changing sound across previous releases, latest effort Kitro (self-released) sees a bold direction which fully embraces Greece in both terms of lyrical content and the nations more traditional music.
However, despite being armed with what sounds like an intriguing and certainly unique prospect, the final results are, at the very least, mixed. Proceedings begin very badly with ‘Therion’s fast, chugging pace and initial build which oddly feels hugely reminiscent of The Beastie Boys’ ‘Sabotage’ and thus comes across as a horrid novelty cover, unaided by a dire vocal performance.
After this false start, however, Kitro seems to find more of an identity, with album highlight ‘Arena’ delivering on scenic atmosphere and bringing a cohesive balance between Greek folk and progressive metal elements. Amongst these aforementioned highs and lows, Kitro, for the most part, is the sound of a unique and compelling idea that hasn’t quite been pulled off yet. The blending of traditional with more contemporary and familiar styles at times feels like a clash whilst at others seems to blend more fluidly, suggesting Kitro as an experiment that hasn’t quite been achieved yet. This is unaided by the fact that despite its individuality, most of its songs are simply too lacklustre to stick with the listener long after.
Bands should be credited for attempting anything brash and original in such a crowded arena of music where cookie cutter bands can rise so often, and Raw In Sect definitely bring such an idea to the table. Ultimately, Kitro feels uninspiring and purely experimental for the sake of it. It throws some nice ideas up which could well be built upon, but on its own, Kitro is a surprisingly bland affair.
5.0/10
CHRIS TIPPELL