Gothic Materialism by Hertz Kankarok
Hertz Kankarok is the nom de plume of a Sicilian musician who, at the end of 2012, gave birth to an unconventional metal solo project that explores the beauty in darkness. Author of music and lyrics, as well as singer, Hertz Kankarok composes his songs using a computer and then draws upon valuable and indispensable partner musicians for the arrangements and the recordings.
It is hard to put Hertz Kankarok’s music into a specific label, as it incorporates various influences and has at least three different, complementary souls: a powerful thrash-death soul (Meshuggah, Sepultura), a gothic, theatrical, and horror soul (Moonspell, Tiamat), and a more progressive and avant-garde soul (Celtic Frost, Arcturus). What cannot be denied is that both the sound and mentality of this project are deeply rooted in the nineties, a decade where most bands were in search of their own identity and uniqueness, and were not afraid to explore uncharted territories.
After releasing an EP entitled "Livores" (2015) and a full-length album named "Make Madder Music" (2018), Hertz Kankarok is ready to unleash his sophomore album, "Gothic Materialism." This new chapter centers on the blending of the eerie flavors of gothic music with the materiality of a robust and heavy sound, exploring the two extremes of irrationality and rationality, of pagan lore and scientific thought.
In "Gothic Materialism," each song is treated as a separate story with its individual character and ambiance. As we progress through the listening, we smoothly move from one subgenre of metal to another, and from one setting to the next, as in an ever-changing story that is being told to us by a modern aoidos. The carefully-chiseled lyrics—written in English, Italian, and Spanish—revolve around influences as diverse as the infamous Marquis de Sade, the Italian writer Tommaso Landolfi, glimpses of Luciferianism, the Mediterranean Sea, and the depths of physical cosmology.
The album was arranged by the incredibly talented Andrea Cavallaro, who recorded all guitars, bass and synths, while the drums were skillfully performed by Marcelo Rúben Aires (Sullen, Pinturas Negras). It was mixed by Dario Laletta and Andrea Cavallaro between 2021 to 2022, and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Engineering in Portland, USA, in October 2022.
“Gothic Materialism” will be released independently on September 23rd, 2023. The album will be available on Bandcamp as well as all major music platforms.
Tracklist
| 1. | An Ode to the Dark Matter | 8:27 |
| 2. | Gurù o la pietra lunare | 7:07 |
| 3. | Enlighten Me | 6:27 |
| 4. | Lost at Sea | 4:16 |
| 5. | The Libertine and the Volcano | 10:05 |
Credits
Personic People
Hertz Kankarok – vocals
Andrea Cavallaro – guitars, bass, synths
Marcelo Rúben Aires – drums
Francesca Pulvirenti – additional vocals on track 2
Fabio Monaco – guitar solo on track 5
Music and lyrics by Hertz Kankarok. All arrangements by Andrea Cavallaro. Drums arrangements by Marcelo Rúben Aires.
Mixed by Dario Laletta and Andrea Cavallaro 2021 to 2022. Mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Engineering, October 2022.
Cover artwork by Azmeroth Szandor. Picture courtesy of Alberto Petrelli. Logo by Christophe Szpajdel.
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Hertz Kankarok is the nom de plume of a Sicilian musician who, at the end of 2012, gave birth to an unconventional metal solo project that explores the beauty in darkness.
Author of music and lyrics, as well as singer, Hertz Kankarok composes his songs using a computer and then draws upon valuable and indispensable partner musicians for the arrangements and the recordings.