While it looks like a jumble of consonants, KHNVM actually has an easy pronunciation: Kha-noom. Their sinister new album, Cosmocrator, derives its title from a Greek word that roughly translates to “ruler of the world” and can also refer to Satan. However, these guys aren’t Greek. Rather, KHNVM is based out of Germany, and frontman Obliterator was born in Bangladesh. Though there are three members pictured in the band photo below, Obliterator does the Billy Corgan thing and records everything but the drums.1 KHNVM released their first album, Foretold Monuments of Flesh, in 2019, and now six years later, Cosmocrator marks their fourth record. In that short span of time, KHNVM has gradually shifted from putrid death metal to a more nuanced death-doom sound. It’s time to find out if KHNVM goes kaboom!
Cosmocrator alternates between speedy death tremolos and slow, sludgy guitar riffs. The result comes off somewhat like Mother of Graves or Tomb of Finland minus the melodicism. “Fetid Eden” best illustrates this death-doom dance. Its bookends contain up-tempo drumming and tremolos amidst Obliterator’s low, whispery growls, but the middle of the song slows to a near funeral doom pace. This makes for a varied, interesting listening experience, and one that’s particularly rewarding when KHNVM ramps up the energy following a bout of doom. Opener “Purgatorial Pyre” similarly straddles this line to great success. Once you get past the lengthy instrumental passage,2 the song gets the heart pumping with some energetic riffs and a Kvaen-like chorus in “Pyre! Purgatorial pyre!”
KHNVM also toys with progressive song structures, which is wise considering four of the seven tracks are over five minutes long. While the progressive structure prevents them from growing stale to repetition, not all movements within each song are equally compelling. This leads to some inconsistent songwriting. For example, “Cosmocrator” has a rough start but ends well. The early dissonant counter-harmonics play out awkwardly, yet the latter half shifts to blast beats and tremolos that create a smoother, more enjoyable listen. On the other end of the spectrum is the longer “Venom Spawn.” The first five minutes are easily my favorite on Cosmocrator. It opens with riffs of an Eastern tinge and plays at a slow but enjoyable plod. Unfortunately, the final two minutes lose the hook and become a tedious plod. I admire the desire to change it up, but when you have a good thing going, it’s best not to mess with it.
At a DR 8, the sound quality is admirable, yet the mix produces some questionable choices. The guitar plays loudly and drowns out some of the other elements. This is most noticeable on “Haunting Blight,” where the bass features prominently in the early goings and combos nicely with the drums. Yet when the lead guitar starts up, the bass disappears. Sometimes, the guitar even muffles Obliterator’s own voice—I strained to pick up his growls on “Fetid Eden.” The loudness also amplifies the awkwardness of the dissonant notes. I found these notes jarring, but not in a way that enhanced the songs. The use of dissonance seems to be a new skill set added to Obliterator’s repertoire, and I felt those were the parts that worked the least. Outside of that, the instruments sound good, and Obliterator and drummer Autokrator handle them with skill. They deftly weave between death and doom, and when the bass is able to shine through the haze of the guitars, everything sounds that much better.
KHNVM has plenty of good things going for them, and they keep the album nice and short at 36 minutes. Unfortunate inconsistencies hold Cosmocrator back, but I admire Obliterator’s ambition. Stripped of the dissonance and some pointless instrumental portions, Cosmocrator could have been a good or very good record. A jarring dissonance risks snapping listeners from their reverie if not done correctly. Amidst the varied tricks Obliterator employed, it was the one that stuck out like a sore thumb. At times, it felt like KHNVM was trying too hard to create a menacing sound when they already had all the elements needed to create a solid record. KHNVM has room to bring more boom, and I believe they can.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Testimony Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: August 29th, 2025
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