Alicia Cordisco is probably one of the most veteran, and prolific, musicians you should know more about and I am here to help with that. I first encountered Alicia via Transgressive, the absolutely killer death/thrash band with lyrics that make me want to punch through a police car's window (joking of course haha). I then followed her on Bluesky and found out she was also in Judicator, the absolutely killer USPM band with lyrics that make me want to punch the sun (not a joke at all). She's also posted a few videos from her collaborations with other great artists and then, most recently, that she was working with blog favorite Vanessa Funke on a melodic black metal project. Naturally I was intrigued, which leads us right here: a full premiere of The Burden of I, said album. Tremolo riffs, frost-bitten vocals, and more soaring melodies than you can count are down below - let's get to it!
I absolutely love Funke's vocals here and the harsher timbre she's brought to bear for the project. It works incredibly well with Cordisco's approach to black metal compositions and its emphasis on a dark, somber atmosphere. This is especially interesting when we take each element in consideration: a lot of it is melodic and, therefore, could be construed as soaring or buoyant, etc. But when taken together, Cordisco manages to conjure a draping, melancholic mood that runs through the entire album. The end result ends up mirroring the album cover art: light (in the form of the dogged will to keep going and to thrive) amidst the darkness, an acceptance of the hardships of life but also the conviction to continue to pursue it and its betterment.
It's everything black metal should be: arresting, sweeping, and deeply personal, communicating everything that exists in the human heart, comfortable and uncomfortable both. If you like what you hear, head on over to the Bandcamp page above to grab the album - it officially releases on Friday.