(written by Islander)

Ørb is the melodic death metal project of English/Danish solo artist Karl Koch. Ørb’s debut album is a concept record wrapped around a dystopian sci-fi theme that focuses on a very real and urgent phenomenon, described by Ørb as follows:

The full-length album follows a lone resistance figure in a dystopian future where humanity teeters on the brink of extinction under the omnipotent grasp of The Nexus – an advanced AI network that has reduced humanity to obedient cogs in a machine-driven existence. Armed only with unwavering principles and the history of humankind, this stoic survivor embarks on a perilous journey to challenge the AI overlord.

The album’s narrative arc traces a revolt that may be liberation—or only another loop in the machine. Central questions drive the work: Can fate be overcome? What remains of human identity when autonomy is stripped away? Does a belief in determinism empower or limit us? These aren’t abstract philosophical exercises—they’re survival questions in an age where AI increasingly shapes human experience.

The project stands with one boot in tomorrow’s wasteland and one in the world we already feel tightening around us, creating a parable about resistance that resonates beyond the boundaries of extreme metal.

What we have for you today is the premiere of the first single from this forthcoming album, a song named “Ghost Key“. Here is how the song fits into the album’s narrative arc: Continue reading »