Album Review: Kardashev – Liminal Rite

Music that tells a story

Kardashev released their newest full-length album Liminal Rite on June 10th, 2022. Liminal Rite is Kardashev’s first album release since The Baring of Shadows in 2021. Kardashev is based out of Tempe, Arizona, and uses a progressive death metal style in their work.

Kardashev’s current lineup consists of four members. Mark Garrett is the lead vocalist, Nico Mirolla is on the guitar, Alex Reith is on bass and Sean Lang is on drums. Liminal Rite is an emotional release, focusing on human emotions and trauma through progressive death metal.

Several songs stand out on Liminal Rite for their ability to convey human emotion and tragedy. The music is beautifully composed and is complimented well by the powerful lyrics and vocals. Kardashev has recently signed with Metal Blade Records, and Liminal Rite is an epic way to produce with a new label.

“The Approaching of Atonement” sets the tone for Liminal Rite. Rather than starting with a heavy bassline, the song gradually increases its bass towards the end. “The Approaching of Atonement” sets the themes of tragedy for the album that is presented later on through metalcore instrumentals.

“Silvered Shadows” is where the music begins to pick up the pace. The guitars and the bass create a feeling of excitement that is also tragic. This bittersweet feeling is reflected in the lyrics that tell the tale of aging, as it can be both exciting and depressing.

While some songs like “Silvered Shadows” have a much faster pace, songs like “Lavender Calligraphy” are slower. “Lavender Calligraphy” is slower in its pace, but here is where the drums steal the show. The drums represent the feeling of constant pain and negativity in their quickness and intensity.

Liminal Rite is an exceptional release. The instrumentals have an incredible flow and effectively help tell the story of the bands’ emotions. The music can speed up and create a high level of energy, but it can also slow down and do the opposite. 

The vocals do something similar. When the vocals are softer, they reflect calmness, and when they get deeper, they create a feeling of higher energy and intensity. Liminal Rite is an exceptional release for its incredible music that tells a story. This is an excellent way to start with Metal Blade Records, and Liminal Rite will maintain its success for a long time.