Carach Angren
genre
Symphonic Black Metal
country
Netherlands
ALCATRAZ 2023
saturday | 15h50-16h40 | swamp
Bio
Dutch symphonic black metallers Carach Angren were founded just over two decades ago. Their hallmarks include generous orchestral arrangements and searing guitar riffs.
Since their drummer flew the coop they have been reduced to a duo, but what a tag team it is! Seregor and Ardek set themselves apart from the crowd through multi-layered and intricate compositions that are also catchy enough to stick in your head. On ‘This Is No Fairytale’ (2015), a black metal-inspired version of the Hansel and Gretel story, they purposely dialled back the symphonic elements and the album solidified Carach Angren’s growing reputation. Factor in their genuinely creepy ghost stories and you’ve got a recipe for success. Take Johann Konrad Drippel, the main character on ‘Franckensteina Strataemontanus’ (2020), whose experimentations on corpses provided the inspiration for Mary Shelley’s legendary monster. As they continue to subtly tweak their sound, for instance through sporadic melodic vocals on ‘Dance and Laugh amongst the Rotten’ (2017), they continue to claw their way to the top of the symphonic metal food chain.
