KALEIDOBOLT – Karakuchi – LP – Black Vinyl [APR 3]

LP – Standard Edition Black Vinyl. KALEIDOBOLTs fifth album is pungent to the ears.

Karakuchi is one record you can judge by its cover. The first time Kaleidobolts faces have adorned an LP, they have been fused into a torpedoing biomechanical vehicle. Echoing The Birthday Partys Junkyard or Motrheads Orgasmatron (on acid?!), the illustration epitomises perfectly Kaleidobolts agenda of hyperkinetic rock. Their feverish, psych-prog sound is full of motion. It jerks around at different speeds, threatening to spin out of control and crash into flames at any given moment.

Whats more, it isnt taken too seriously. This is heavy and intricate music, yes. But as bassist and co-singer Marco Menestrina puts it, the Kaleidobolt attitude is an ugly smirk more than an angry face with a fist.

On their fifth album since forming in 2014, the Helsinki-based outfit lean into their strengths as a formidable power trio. With their previous two records, 2019s Bitter and 2022s This One Simple Trick, they had thrown everything at their disposal into the recording with no expense spared on overdubs, effects and kitchen sinks. Produced again by Niko Lehdontie (Oranssi Pazuzu), Karakuchi comes from tightly rehearsed, live-in-the-studio takes. Kaleidobolt realise that greater sparsity can be a strength, and theyve allowed their instruments extra space to breathe. It makes for their earthiest, purest and perhaps most authentic record to date.

Karakuchis exuberant style emerges from the individual members contrasting listening habits. These span classic prog, Japanese city pop, noise rock, post-hardcore and historical podcasts. One record they can all agree is a masterpiece, the centre of the Venn diagram where all three members meet, is King Crimsons Red.

As for their new albums title, thats as suitable as the cover art. Karakuchi is the slogan of the Japanese beer brand Asahi Super Dry. Translated literally, this means pungent to the mouth. As drinkers of that product, Kaleidobolt acknowledge its parallels to their songs. Its very intense, right at the front, like at the first bite, explains Menestrina. And then it leaves your mouth feeling refreshed. The flavour doesnt linger in your mouth, basically. It has a quick, hard finish. With a bit of a stretch, we thought that that could also be said of our music.

Karakuchi is Kaleidobolt at their hardest, fastest, tightest and super-driest. Pungent to the ears.

–JR Moores, November 2025

Tracklist:

A1. Tinkerbell
A2. Lights On, Nobody Home
A3. Coping
A4. Astro Boy/Ochanomizu

B1. Duuude
B2. Friends of Fire
B3. A Chance of a Lifetime
B4. Turn of Luck