Klonns Heaven

Released
26th April 2024
Label 
Black Hole, Iron Lung
Format

12 Inch

Black

£18.00

‘無関心の代償 見捨てられた街 魂の行方が お前に見えるか?’ / ‘The price of indifference, the forsaken city, can you see where the souls are going?’ (Realm)

Tokyo’s Klonns have released a slew of EPs since their formation in 2016, most recently 2022’s Crow, and now take their full-length bow on Heaven.  Over this period, the band’s sound has been one of constant evolution revolving around their core hardcore foundations, drawing initially on black metal and then d-beat.  Their current iteration feels leaner, less chaotic but still darkly metallic – think the negative hardcore ferocity of say Gehenna refracted through the prism of the mosh-inducing burliness of late 1980s’ East Coast hardcore and you will begin to get a sense of where we are at.

Having caught the band’s searing live performance in London a few weeks back, my expectations were running pretty high, and I’m pleased to say that they have not been disappointed.  Book-ended by two eerily rhythmic ambient electronic tracks is a brutally honed hardcore onslaught that is relentless in its intensity as blackened vocals and a swaggering rhythm section provide the perfect foils to the waves of surging metallic riffage.

The savage opening riff to Heathen sets the tone for the opening side with the bruising breakdown of Beherit and searing guest vocals courtesy of Sailor Kannako that bring Realm to a crushing crescendo, ensuring that there is no respite.  The pace does not dim on the flip side with stand-out moments including the stomping Replica and the savage closing title track.  Dual English and Japanese lyrics explore themes of regret, frustration, and despair through often bleakly allusive imagery.

—Foundation Vinyl