White Tiger - KVLT

"KVLT" is a darkwave/witch house/darksynth album by a UK-based producer White Tiger known for a diverse selection of releases ranging from classic synthwave to goth metal, sludge metal and industrial tracks. Unlike your average synthwave/darksynth release that tends to dwell on classic cyberpunk/sci-fi feels and Stranger Things aesthetics, White Tiger’s compositions transcend genres and themes, drawing on an impressive range of diverse musical influences from doom, metal, darkwave, dungeon synth and witch house.

"KVLT" is an epitome of electronic and acoustic genre-fusions, seamlessly blending sludge and distorted electronic guitars with wet, reverb-heavy atmospheres typical of witch house and quintessential 80's inspired analogue synth samples. Each track is unique and diverse, but together all compositions of "KVLT" keep the listener immersed in the overpowering sense of doom and wonder; the kind of wonder one might experience when threading off the known path into the unknown and dangerous territories.         

The track that immediately stood out for me is 'The Legions' – an experimental dungeon-synth like 14-minute epic that starts with distant chanting and subtle bell melodies that eventually evolves into the bright sound of a vintage synth solo and by the time the beat drops, the listener is transported into the darksynth territory. The composition is as musically interesting as it is catchy; a surprising combination of dynamic range appropriate for more ambient, hypnotic genres with rocking melodies and progressions that stick in your head. The second half of the track gradually evolves into sludge doom metal with occasional synth solos to bring us back into the hypnotic feel of the beginning.

'Satanic Panic (feat. Lucy Von Satan & Sexydeath)' combines rougher punk-like female vocals with an industrial/darksynth blend of beats, melodies and synths. And 'Season of the Witch (featuring Banshee)' takes us by surprise with neo-classical choral vocal harmonies, yet a distinct witch house feel and instrumentation typical for the sub-genre: detuned bells, hover synth, slow trap-like beat. 'Eyes Of The Zodiac (feat. Kevin Srednep)' is experimental, haunting dubstep with blood-chilling echoing wailing vocals that gradually evolve into aggressive near-growls; the closest comparison I can describe this composition with is “restless, vengeful, crazy ghost”.

Of all White Tiger's releases, this one undoubtedly stands out, uniting an array of musical influences, different voices, and shamelessly experimenting with electronic music sub-genres, under the same doom umbrella of an album which is "KVLT". I am excited to see what new collaborations and colors White Tiger will bring up in his next record.