Crocell – Kvlto Maldito / Via Siniestra

In Denmark we have a black/death metal combo going under the moniker of Crocell, but this time we will not talk about Crocell from Aarhus, but rather about an authentic and interesting band from Colombia sharing the same name.

Crocell that we are presenting today plays an authentic and evil form of old school black metal, reminiscent of the early ’90s golden era of the genre and bands such as Darkthrone, Immortal, Moonblood, Gorgoroth and similar scene giants. Kvlto Maldito / Via Siniestra is their 2025 double release, produced and promoted by the German label Misanthrophia Discos. Originally the CD was meant to feature only Crocell’s most recent release, EP entitled Vía Siniestra (listen to entire EP below), but since it’s a relatively short EP (five tracks including the closing “Outro”), they’ve decided to add their 2010 demo Kulto Maldito, to extend the CD to a respectable album length, which its duration now exceeding sixty-three minutes. During the time passing between the two releases, a lot has happened in terms of music – clearly still a piece of raw black metal, but their technical skills are on a much higher level now.

What both 2010 Demo and 2024 EP have in common is the band’s sincere and original spirit of the band, being uncompromising and deeply rooted into old-school South American black metal traditions. Thus, one can in general terms say that the Colombian quartet perform an obscure and blasphemous form of raw and brutal black metal with many technical parts. The sound, and the production, are still characterized by a crude, raw, and lo-fi and minimalist approach, but it is exactly what makes them so unique.

The frozen and cutting sound of the guitars emerges strongly from the mix, whereas the convincing and dynamic drums stand a bit in the background. One can hear numerous dissonant tremolo picking parts, as well as some depressive arpeggios. The vocals are insane, monotone, cacophonous and with a throaty screaming approach. At last, there’s the bass which often serves as a foundational element, providing a low-end backbone to the music, while providing rhythmic and harmonic support, often complementing the drums and guitars in the best possible way.

What I liked the most about this CD is the fact that the band adds a unique cultural (Colombian & South American) element to their sound, and consequently influencing their interpretation of the genre. Everything about Kvlto Maldito / Via Siniestra is reminiscent of the early 90s black metal scene, particularly its raw and evil atmosphere. In other words, it’s a highly recommended release dedicated to any fans of true ’90s style black metal and in the vein of the above-mentioned bands.

Kvlto Maldito / Via Siniestra is strictly limited edition of 250 copies, so you have to hurry up and order your copy from Misanthrophia Discos. What has potential of becoming a cult classic release will make a fine addition to your collection. More information on the band, and their latest release, you will find at their bandcamp.