KEKHT ARÄKH - Morning Star LP

"Morning Star" showcases Kekht Aräkh on his journey toward a more authentic and refined version of himself. Recorded in Berlin and Stockholm, the album emerged during a period of intense personal and artistic growth.

It blends aggressive black metal passages with immersive, structured soundscapes that feel both intimate and expansive. Since his beginnings in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Dmitry (aka Crying Orc), the sole driving force behind the project, has sought a distinctive path within black metal. This vision unfolded through his debut album, "Through the Branches to Eternity EP" (2018), and the albums "Night & Love" (2018) and "Pale Swordsman" (2021), which established a characteristic tension between ferocious, visceral black metal and delicate, introspective ballads. On "Morning Star," this dynamic reaches a new level of depth. The album was created during a period of artistic clarity and explores a rawer, more personal emotional palette, shaped by stress, anxiety, and long periods of writer's block, giving it a rare immediacy and vulnerability.

Dmitry recorded almost all the instruments himself, with drums by Jonathan (Spira Me, Vanskapth, Olycka). Bladee contributed vocals and co-wrote the lyrics for "Eternal Martyr," an unexpected collaboration that reveals an intuitive chemistry. VS--55 and Varg2Ö add abstract samples and subtle texture designs that give "Morning Star" its distinctive grain and analog warmth, while James Ginzburg (Emptyset, Osmium) handled the final mastering, enhancing the dynamic depth and atmospheric richness. Several tracks revisit earlier material with fresh perspectives. "Wänderer" and "Drömsang" were partially re-recorded or completely reinterpreted. Intense, driving passages collide with sparse, contemplative interludes, creating a landscape that is both visceral and haunting.