Anagnorisis nearly didn’t return, as the material for Caregriever (and the album title) was originally conceived as a solo project for frontman Zachery Kerr. Created to grapple with the grief of caring for his father-in-law over five years up until his death, the aptly titled Caregriever is the band’s first new record in a decade. As the scope of the solo material blew up, Kerr shared it with his old bandmates, and their latest was born. With a decade behind the band and music originally conceived for another project, is Anagnorisis’s return worthy of its emotional inspirations or a miasma of ideas and execution?

Time has not dulled the Louisville, Kentucky-based Anagnorisis’s skills in the slightest. Caregriever tugs at your emotions like the clawing hands of the River Styx, and our Charon on this journey is frontman Zachery Kerr. His acid-burned, throaty howls elevate the poignant lyrics to a fever pitch, leading to emotional climaxes at every turn. When “Choke” opens up in the back half and he screams, “IT’S YOUR FUCKING FAULT,” as the band drops into all-out frenzy, you know Anagnorisis are back. Cody McCoy’s drumming may be the highlight; his impactful playing is natural while still carrying an incredible sense of rhythm even at top speed. “Nothing Left To Give” displays his meaty fills and battering snare, but he is a force across the album. Zak Denham and Kerr fill Caregriever with memorable guitar playing that dips outside the typical black-and post-black range the band is known for. This record is faster, meaner, and dripping with vitriol and bittersweet love in equal parts. Punk asides, riffs like chasms, and alluring solos pepper Caregriever. Josh Mumford’s bass is the only victim here. While the production is phenomenal throughout, it is frequently lost in the cacophony of Kerr’s screeching vocals, McCoy’s battering drums, and the dual-guitar assault. When the bass does peek through, it is weighty and twangy, exactly as it should be. This isn’t an issue with the production; it is more like too many good elements fighting for your attention at any given time.

Caregriever is a record that is rich on every level. The playing is top-tier, creativity abounds, and the lyrics are heart-wrenching. The worst I can say is I would have liked to hear a little more bass in the mix, and the album could actually gain a song, as it is a bit heavy on atmospherics in the middle. These are nitpicks in the grand scheme of things, and Anagnorisis shows that they are more than capable of one of the best comebacks I never knew I needed. Caregriever smartly slices the fat from previous records, and in the transfer of Kerr’s solo material to a full record for the band, they have their best work to date.

Caregriever is a tightly played, carefully crafted, and passionately conceived record that will stand the test of time. I can’t wait to see what Anagnorisis does next with this newfound creative drive, because Caregriever sounds like a young band’s debut, not one from an act off a decade-long hiatus. If you love White Ward, Ashbringer, and Bosse-de-Nage, Anagnorisis is likely already on your list; if not, Caregriever makes a case for one of the best black metal records of the year. Bring a box of tissues, but be ready to fling snot everywhere as you headbang through the hauntingly beautiful hellscape of Caregriever.

Rating: 4.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Bölverk Collective
Websites: Bandcamp | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: October 23rd, 2026