Kaatayra - Inpariquipê (2021)^{Release ID: 32614}

A Familiar Warmth

Caio Lemos, the mastermind behind the solo Brazilian Atmospheric Black Metal project Kaatayra, certainly made a name for himself in 2020, releasing two of the most unique albums I’ve heard in the genre. While much of the Black Metal foundation on Só quem viu o relâmpago à sua direita sabe and Toda história pela frente remained intact, these two albums channeled a certain energy and style that was fresh and incredibly soulful. There’s a sense of naturalness around Kaatayra’s projects and, from perusing a few interviews, it’s clear that genuine spirit is a driving force as to why his music can contain so much character. The acoustic riffing, traditional percussion, and masterful layering and mixing left these two albums inhabiting the dense and muggy tropical jungles rather than the bleak and snowy mountains, and in Inpariquipê, Lemos is able to lead the listener even deeper into the balmy unknown.

I considered Kaatayra’s two 2020 albums to, more or less, be two halves of a full experience considering one was fully acoustic and the other was more in line with traditional Atmospheric Black Metal tendencies. Inpariquipê blurs the genre lines even more, to the point where it’s hard to say whether most of the album even resembles Atmospheric Black Metal anymore. It’s a massive conglomerate of traditional Brazilian folk music mixed with trance-like electronics and blast beats tossed in the background, and somehow it forms into an experience that feels more complete than Kaatayra’s previous albums. Rather than focusing in on a few select elements, Inpariquipê incorporates all of them and more in entrancing melodies that sound organic and gorgeous. Atmospheric Black Metal can be a tricky and extremely subjective genre because, on the surface level, the sharp and grinding guitar tones alongside the furious crash of blast beats atop muffled, distant screaming isn’t exactly beautiful or soothing. Although the best Atmospheric Black Metal albums are written and mixed in ways to create beauty from chaos, Kaatayra is able to skip this strange transitional zone since his music is welcoming and graceful from the start. The acoustic foundation he uses is established from the beginning in “Tiquindê” along with the striking variety of traditional percussion used in tandem with a normal drum kit to produce a lush wall of melodies that are built upon as the song progresses.

Lemos’ songwriting capabilities have continued to improve as Inpariquipê is able to keep me wholly interested without resorting to heavy riffing or massive climaxes. Its subtle melody progressions are masterful at keeping the album moving forward, away from the occasionally bleak repetitiveness that can plague atmospheric genres. Each song, especially “Inpariquipê” and “Dundararaiê”, is able to make seamless transitions between minimalist musings and bombastic vocal sections while managing to always sound full and lively. Even ambient sounds have a larger purpose rather than just filling space as most of them are used as actual accompaniments to the vocals or guitar. Thankfully, any ambient sections are scattered and fleeting as a guitar riff, percussion rhythm, or marimba melody always appears to carry the album forward in no time at all. There are a ton of small flute, marimba, and synth sections that put the final, personal sounding touches on Kaatayra’s new and more folky direction while also leaving any gimmick discussions null and void. Fully acoustic Black Metal was a neat idea, but hearing all of these different influences and sounds come together as a full package shows that Lemos has concepts that can persevere and evolve into blossoming creativity.

Even though the Atmospheric Black Metal fan inside of me wanted to hear more from tracks like “Dundararaiê”, I can’t help but admit that the most aggressive parts of Inpariquipê are most likely its weakest. This isn’t to say that they’re disappointing by any stretch, but I slowly found myself more mesmerized by the sweeping acoustic riffs, slightly dissonant marimba, or tribal-like percussion sections. The climactic sections are necessary and work wonderfully for contrast, but it’s made me realize that Kaatayra’s music is now much more than blast beats and tremolo riffing. That being said, the beginning half of “Iasá” when it combines every instrument in the album thus far into a flurry of layered melodies is easily my favorite part of the album. It’s able to showcase how assertive music can be in a unique way without necessarily increasing distortion or dropping the tuning. The rest of the album is a soothing journey through a far-off but somehow familiar land as Lemos uses all of the aforementioned elements in consistently interesting and different ways. The compositions sound immensely complex but never overwhelming, which is perfect for the atmosphere I get out of Inpariquipê.

Atmospheric Black Metal has a known history of being cold, distant, and sometimes hard to get along with. Somehow, Kaatayra has begun to forge a path forward by being warm and welcoming. Although there isn’t much metal left in Inpariquipê’s more folky evolution, it’s so interesting seeing someone explore a genre from a completely different angle. Caio Lemos, more than any other artist I can think of right now, has just the right influences and technical prowess to express a genuine slice of the region he calls home. While it was exciting to hear his take on Black Metal last year, this year’s album was more cathartic than I expected it to be. It's robust, versatile, and reflective thanks to the addition of so many cultural elements and influences working together in harmony. I'm floored by how much I've enjoyed having this album on repeat, each time finding new details and moments tucked away in the layers of sound. Kaatayra is able to display themselves and their world in a way that few other artists can, by utilizing traditional cultural elements that are transformed and molded by their own influences in brilliant fashion. It's such a refreshing take on a genre that seemed to pride itself on being inaccessible, since Lemos is able to create his own atmosphere of welcome, comforting warmth amidst ever present trials and tribulations.