CALLIGRAM have today shared a new single and music video, Frantumi In Itinere, from their forthcoming album, Position | Momentum, which is set for release via Prosthetic Records on July 14. Frantumi In Itinere is the second track to be taken from the London, UK based multinational black metal group’s sophomore full-length, with an intense thematic focus on human consciousness and death. CALLIGRAM has also recently announced UK tour dates – with more details below.
Stream Frantumi In Itinere via Apple Music | TIDAL | Deezer | Bandcamp and Spotify
Pre-order Position | Momentum here.
Speaking on Frantumi In Itinere, CALLIGRAM comments: “This song is about death and consciousness. The limits of human consciousness is the “reach of thought”. As humans we naturally strive for reaching and overcoming the limits which means, in this case, taking consciousness beyond the field of human thought into something greater, vaster and incomprehensible by thought and unreachable by intellect. At the same time this is terrifying because that same limit is what defines us and keeps us alive: the idea of “life” lays within its limits.”
Joy can be found in the most unlikely of places. A listen through CALLIGRAM‘s latest offering may not instantly conjure up feelings of immediate joy, but rest assured – between the blistering howls and blackened riffs, there is much to celebrate.
Position | Momentum saw the group decamp to The Parlour Studios in Kettering to record with Russ Russell (Napalm Death, Dimmu Borgir, At The Gates) during the summer of 2022. The follow up to 2020’s The Eye Is The First Circle doesn’t ease up on intensity; if anything, giving the chaos a little more room to breathe has shaped CALLIGRAM into something even more formidable than before.
Sonically, the band has further refined their amalgamation of bilious D-beat punk and ice cold black metal. The results are as abrasive as one would hope, but ceding space to atmospheric passages helps create a claustrophobic, ominous ambience to proceedings; allowing some light in only serves to accentuate the darkness further.
Once again vocals are delivered in Matteo Rizzardo’s native Italian – and even those who don’t speak the language should soon pick up the jist of his missives. Tales of pain, chaos, struggle and anxiety are poured into each anguished scream, a growing sense of combustibility becomes palpable as the album progresses. But Rizzardo is keen to clarify that Position | Momentum is not about catharsis through music: this is not his therapy.
The hardest work for Rizzardo was done away from the band as he walked along a path of acceptance and self-analysis. As the burdens on his shoulders grew heavier and the darkness became all-consuming he set out to understand, embrace and reclaim the darkest parts of himself. Position | Momentum documents his feelings looking back at troubled times – with clarity, acceptance, and yes – joy. Reflecting on his experiences with some emotional distance meant that the lyrics came easily; Rizzardo describes them as ‘flying out’ – a purging of sorts.
Music is often seen as medicine; a balm to soothe what ails you. With no intention to use Position | Momentum as a crutch, CALLIGRAM has crafted the opposite – a caustic celebration of pain, death and chaos.
Position | Momentum tracklist:
1. Sul Dolore
2. Frantumi In Itinere
3. Eschilo
4. Tebe
5. Per Jamie
6. Ostranenie
7. Ex-Sistere
8. Seminario Dieci
Upcoming CALLIGRAM tour dates:
May 6 – Anarchy Brew Co – Newcastle, UK
May 8 – The Underworld – Camden, UK
July 29 – Reaper Festival – Hairy Dog – Derby, UK
CALLIGRAM is:
Matteo Rizzardo – vocals
Ardo Cotones – drums / vocals
Bruno Cambiaghi – guitar
Tim Desbos – guitar
Smittens – bass
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 