Kamra are a black metal band from Slovenia and this is their second album.
Kamra have a member of Assumption in their ranks, and Unending Confluence contains 41 minutes of music. This is black metal influenced by the old-school, but dragged by lethal dissonance into the modern era.
Unending Confluence has a second wave skeleton, fleshed out with dark atmosphere, abstruse creativity, and a minor injection of death metal muscle. It has an experimental feel, with contorted songwriting and avant-garde elements that make it partially reminiscent of the late 90s period where many black metal bands were pushing their sound outside of its original boundaries. I say partially, as it’s also cut from the more contemporary cloth of dissonant darkness of the Icelandic scene, along with an avant-garde death metal touch. Overall, it’s a modern black metal album, but one that is shrouded in an uncommon esoteric darkness. Put differently, Unending Confluence is the sound of a black metal album that’s been tortured into something different from that of your average genre release. In very rough terms, think of a mix of bands like Blut Aus Nord, Dødheimsgard, Mayhem, Misþyrming, and Ulcerate. As a description, it’s not perfect, but gets the idea across.
Unending Confluence is intricate and labyrinthine. Kamra have put a lot different ideas and sounds into these songs, and the result is an arcane collection of six tracks that showcase a warped and twisted vision of black metal. Despite this, there’s more than enough to get your teeth into initially, before repeated spins open up the nuances of the band’s material for further exploration. Vocally, the singer is a daemonic chameleon, and more than capable of holding his own against the strong music.
The record has a heart of malevolence, but displays its malefic intent through a multitude of different sounds. The intensity of the music is balanced by its inscrutable atmosphere and psychedelic depth, allowing for both style and substance to be winning factors in Karma’s music. The mood-rich, exploratory aspect of the album is ultimately what makes it work so well. The aggression and hostility are a given for the style, but arising from this is an absorbing atmosphere that is quite compelling. Especially so, as Kamra don’t limit themselves to a purely harsh delivery, and instead walk more than one path across the songs.
Unending Confluence is easy to listen to, assuming you’re initiated into the obscure and impenetrable world of avant-garde extremity. However, its real value is laid bare slowly, over time, as the songs truly start to reveal themselves fully. Kamra have produced a record that demands time and attention, and rewards it twofold.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 