Catalog entry: "Liminal Rite" by Kardashev
Thoughts
Kardashev came across my radar last year, and I've really enjoyed digging into their two most recent albums, "Liminal Rite" as well as "The Baring of Shadows." They describe themselves as "deathgaze," which I'm assuming is an amalgam of death metal and shoegaze. The description may be overly simplified or tongue-in-cheek, but I do think it captures a certain type of energy that Kardashev deliver. "Liminal Rite" evokes the punishing speed and technicality of death metal paired with the vast, somber sounds of shoegaze, blended together in a way that energizes the listener without becoming exhausting, while also giving moments of reflection without becoming tiring or repetitive. I'm excited to dig further into Kardashev's backlog to see how they have developed over time.
Similar acts
Slice the Cake is incredibly similar to Kardashev for so many reasons. Starting with either group and listening to the other will just feel like more of the same, but I mean that in a great way.
Ne Obvliviscaris feels like Kardashev, Extreme Edition. If you like the contrast of Kardashev's two sides, Ne Obliviscaris is more of the same, turned to 11. Brutally punishing and technical passages paired with sudden, almost jarring shifts into beautiful instrumental violin-led intermissions.
Gojira captures the vast "open" sound that I feel from Kardashev, while still committing fully to the groove metal sound that they are known so well for.
I'll admit that I listen to very little shoegaze, so I don't have anything to recommend in that direction from musical standpoint. I hope to amend this gap of understanding in the coming weeks!