REVIEW

The third full-length album from Arizona-based deathgaze band Kardashev.

Released via Metal Blade Records, home to acts like Killswitch Engage and Cannibal Corpse, the album continues to explore the band’s signature fusion of death metal and shoegaze—dubbed “deathgaze” by guitarist Nico Mirolla. Kardashev was formed in 2012 and gained recognition with their 2nd album Liminal Rite (2021), which helped define the genre by blending extreme metal aggression with shoegaze-style emotional expansiveness.

The lineup for Alunea consists of Mark Garrett (vocals), Nico Mirolla (guitar), Alex Rieth (bass), and Sean Lang (drums). The album’s concept continues the band’s interest in science fiction, using the constructed language “Alunea” introduced on the EP The Almanac to depict dialogues between main characters Atlas and Sky-Brother. This functions much like Magma’s Kobaïan, serving as a narrative device within the Kardashev universe.

Musically, Alunea retains the technical prowess of prior releases, with dynamic interplay between clean vocals and harsh growls, intricate guitar work, and complex rhythmic structures drawing from prog, post-metal, and deathcore. Compared with Liminal Rite, the shoegaze/atmospheric elements are somewhat reduced, leaving a sound that leans more toward progressive/post-metal fused with deathcore. While clean/harsh vocal contrasts are not unique to deathgaze—Opeth and other bands have explored similar dynamics—the album still demonstrates impressive composition, tension-and-release structuring, and vocal expressiveness.

For listeners intrigued by the album’s narrative world, attention to the lyrics is recommended. The story conveyed through Alunea presents a sprawling, philosophical sci-fi universe reminiscent of Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End or Greg Egan’s Diaspora. A publicly available Alunea dictionary allows fans to decode the language and deepen their understanding of the album’s concept.

While deathgaze as a genre remains in development and is not yet fully distinguishable from other metal/shoegaze hybrids, Alunea highlights Kardashev’s progressive vision and remains essential listening for fans of technically sophisticated, narrative-driven extreme music.

Previous review: Kardashev - The Almanac‍