(written by Islander)
On April 3rd Argonauta Records will release a new album by the Belgian band Splendidula, whose music blends atmospheric black metal and suffocating doom. The album’s title, Absentia, is a fitting one because the music’s emotional core lies in the tragic absence of loved ones, including the sudden loss of bassist Peter Chromiak in 2022.
In December of last year we premiered a video for the Splendidula single “Echoes of Quiet Remain“, which included a guest vocal appearance by Aaron Stainthorpe, and today we’re premiering another Absentia single and video in advance of the song’s official release on January 30th. The name of this one is “Kilte“, and to introduce it we begin with the comments of Splendidula vocalist Kristien:
photo by Tom Hens, edit by Kristien Cools, background by Aaron Bonogofsky
The lyrics for “Kilte” (Dutch for Coldness) were written in the immediate aftermath of personal loss, born in tears and carrying an unbearable weight. Choosing our native language allowed the emotions to surface without filters. Grief, emptiness, and inner struggle are woven deeply into the song, with the music reflecting a journey through sorrow, isolation, and vulnerability. It has become the track we feel most intensely when performing live, and at first, singing it was almost too heavy to bear. We hope that same emotional intensity reaches the listener just as deeply.
We’ll also share this further description of the song we received:
Following the emotionally charged first single “Echoes Of Quiet Remain,” “Kilte” stands as the album’s most intense and searing moment. Tormented screams, relentless energy and hauntingly atmospheric passages ultimately unfold into a lingering climax, carrying the listener through a frozen landscape of grief, isolation and inner torment.
As that description accurately portrays, the song (and the video) are a braiding together of very different but ultimately cohesive sensations.
Visually, the short film’s first protagonist floats with a haunted face, is submerged in water and almost drowning in agony, and is also drenched by torrents of rain and surrounded by the sparks of fire. As the song’s intensity subsides, a second figure gazes across a wintry environment, lost in sorrowful thoughts, races through snowdrifts, lies prone on the ice — and dances.
Musically, the song thunders, sears, and soars, matched in its tumultuous and incendiary intensity by Kristien’s scorching screams. The riffing snarls; synths shine; and keys brightly ring; and as that happens the vocals transform into sky-high song, a different but no less spine-tingling expression of emotional intensity.
The song also becomes more dreamlike and melancholy, more drifting and elegant, accompanied by gasping words, but it also dramatically expands in the scale of its sweep before significantly softening in an extended interlude that’s mystical and moody. And there Kristien sings again, creating a soulful and spellbinding experience.
All of these changes, including the staggering march, the swaths of gritty riffage, the brightly glittering keys, and another remarkable demonstration of wide-ranging vocal variety that follow the interlude, are greatly aided by the dynamism of the rhythm section’s performance, which push and pull the music’s intensity in vital ways.
Absentia was recorded by JDB at Kosmik Womb. It was mixed by Tim De Gieter at Much Luv Studio, mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music, and completed with cover art by Aaron Bonogofsky. The lyric video for “Kilte” was created by Artifacts From The Tangent Universe (visuals by Yaroslav Shuraev, Cottonbro Studio & Artur Szczubelek).
In addition to Aaron Stainthorpe, the album includes a guest appearance by Tim Yatras, known for his work with Austere and Germ.
As noted above, “Kilte” will be digitally released on January 30th, and Absentia will be released on April 3rd by Argonauta Records. It’s recommended for fans of Alcest, My Dying Bride, Amenra, Sylvaine, and Austere. To stay up to date with Splendidula and news concerning the approach of Absentia, follow the locations linked below.
TO ORDER:
https://shop.argonautarecords.com/
https://splendidula.bandcamp.com/
SPLENDIDULA:
https://www.instagram.com/splendidula.band/
https://www.facebook.com/Splendidula
ARGONAUTA:
https://www.argonautarecords.com/
https://argonautarecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords/