karkinoma’s façades arrive as a slow-burning, introspective excavation of identity. Crafted entirely solo in a home studio in rural France, the album reflects years of personal upheaval, burnout, departure from city life, and the uneasy process of rebuilding from scratch. Drawing from an eclectic palette of electronic, orchestral, and alternative rock influences, karkinoma dissolves the genres, shaping an immersive soundscape.
Right from the jump, “There’s Something in the Woods” pulls you into a hushed, haunted atmosphere. Glistening, bending strings creep in like distant whispers before distorted guitars tear through the stillness. The slow, deliberate drum patterns ground the chaos, while his deep, weighty voice rises with a kind of restrained frustration. It’s eerie but magnetic, like wandering somewhere you know you shouldn’t be, yet can’t leave.
Then comes the title track, “façades,” which hits with more direct force. A steady, thumping beat drives the track forward as his vocals sharpen into something more confrontational. You hear a softer voice trailing beneath, like a subconscious echo. He sings, “The epitome of modern way of life / We have everything we dream about,” dripping with irony, exposing the polished illusions we hide behind.
By the time “Happily Ever After” rolls in, the album leans fully into its cinematic core. Pulsing melodies sync with shrill, soaring textures, building toward a bridge where marching beats and writhing strings collide dramatically. It feels like a climax, like a question left hanging in the air.
Interestingly, the album mirrors itself with instrumental counterparts, letting the soundscapes breathe without words. And honestly, that’s where façades really linger—with its silences, its spaces, and the uncomfortable truths it doesn’t spell out.
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Review by: Naomi Joan