Black Metal is usually a polarizing sub-genre of Metal. Very fast. High-pitched vocals; oftentimes dealing with oppressively dark and/or overtly Pagan/Satanic subject matter, barked out at an unintelligible rate. It is usually either loved or absolutely hated for one or all of the reasons above. Every now and then, however, a band rises above the genre and puts out a release so striking, it ruptures the box attempting to surround it. One such band is Southampton, UK’s, Cairiss.
This five piece, female fronted, Post–Metal/Black Metal band is nothing short of earth shattering. Their recent release of the long awaited EP “Fall” contains three, very long songs “For the Lives He Stole”, “Disgraced” (released as a stand-alone demo in 2014) and “Fall” tell the epic story of tragedy, a loss of innocence and its final resolution. Lyrically, Cairiss took great care to be poetic, thoughtful and meaningful. Musically, they pull from Symphonic Metal, as well as some Doom and, of course, Black Metal. Beautiful in its composition and in execution. Clean, orchestral vocal and music sections between fast, heavily distorted and Black Metal vocals give the feeling of an intimate conversation within ones head; a pendulum swaying between hate, anger and deceit and introspection, hurt and “from Hell” sorrow. An absolutely brilliant and extremely moving use of musical and lyrical advance and retreat of brutal honesty and emotion. Not to deny the underlying connection between the two trains of consciousness, clean vocals are continued with symphonic keyboards, even during harsh parts of crushing guitar work and barked out vocals. Pure genius. So effective, in fact, it is hard not to find yourself lost in the music and unexpectedly in tears. Cairiss is an emotional powerhouse that is shockingly good.
As expected with such a poignant release, there are no weak points in Cairiss. Lyrics and vocals are powerfully handled by Freya Jane Brown. Her voice can be absolutely beautiful or horrifyingly brash. Simply unbelievable this woman’s range. Ethan Bishop handles guitars, bass and the production of the band. Like Brown, Bishop’s guitar skills run the same gambit: low, fast and oppressive to gorgeous and emotive. The Production of “Fall” is nothing short of spectacular and professional to the extreme. Drums for Cairiss are deftly handled by Connor Frapwell, keeping the ever-changing tempo in check and the band on course. Second on guitars and following Ethan’s lead is Martin Williams. Together, this band is powerful musically and lyrically through beautiful, symphonic harmonies and choral composition traded with Black Metal harshness. Cairiss is so good and unique that they should sit in their own Metal sub-genre. “Fall” is a must have CD of epic proportions. It is hard to imagine what will come next from this magnificent band. As a first effort, Cairiss could not have been set any higher.
Cairiss can be found at: Web BandCamp iTunes
Lyrics (published with explicit permission from Cairiss):
FOR THE LIVES HE STOLE
August began its slow descent
Into the arms of winter
Elongated shadows swept across rocks
As they danced in starlight
White hands yearned to stifle
The chimes of children’s cheer
That hung in the air
Like linen soaked in blood
Their pink palms blistered
Forced to grasp ragged ropes
Wrestling with lurching sails
Of anchored virgin vessels
But urgent hands clawed the hulls
And snatched them from the shore
Sand lacerated unmarred skin
That bled beneath waves
Laughter faltered in their mouths
And was torn from their throats
Until clouded milk-white eyes
Extinguished new-born stars
Upon each day that followed from August to July
Lines of crooked mourners bent double across the bay
Lifeless flowers bled through silver foam
Abandoned by listless hands bereft of faith
Their bones grew old and wretched
Black teeth crumbled into dust
Grey rags fluttered in silence
The last lament of forgotten love
He does not bleed
For the lives he stole
No one grieves
For the lives he stole
DISGRACED
Awake at dusk
Suspended over barbed teeth
Tasteless tongues tear at the bay
Carving a grin
I try to scream
But my lungs cave in
Quivering lips
Form silent pleas
I am disgraced
You aren’t erased
Struck a line
Scrawled their name
It’s not the same
It’s not the same
(Repeat once)
Awake at dawn
Interlaced limbs
The smell of smoke
And summer’s air
Our lungs share the first breath and sigh
“Our love will never die”
Sleep unties these knots in my stomach
And returns the smoke and that summer
Our lungs share the first breath and sigh
“Our love will never die”
FALL
Sky fires flare
Abated by descending snow
Waves draw back in silence
Trees, they tie their tongues
Leaves breathe soundless songs
Blood hums broken tempos
Fleeting fears are starved of life
Marbled feet leave earth for air
Mirth is spun from threads of grief
When white ghosts drift from frail bones
