ALBUM REVIEW: THE KARTETCH - ‘THE FALLACY’

The Kartetch are a bold, grunge meets shoegaze, rock ‘n’ roll machine with a phenomenal new EP titled The Fallacy, poised to kick off 2025 in a big way. Hailing from Tbilisi, Georgia, The Kartech describe themselves as “a small group of nomads from Eastern Europe…” which adds an even heavier air of mystique to a record already drenched in haze and shadows galore.

“The Sightseeing Night” gets things started wonderfully. Reverb-soaked guitars, thick bass grooves, a seemingly infinite number of ghost notes on the snare, and ultra-hushed vocal whispers keep the listener on edge throughout its roughly two-and-a-half-minute runtime. At first, the next track, “Sycophants,” almost feels like a continuation of the EP’s opener. This is the longest song on the record, clocking in at just over four and a half minutes, and it masterfully ebbs and flows throughout its duration. Again, an army of tasty ghost notes and haunting guitar tones lure the audience deeper into The Kartetch’s hypnotic web.

The EP’s lead single, “On Time,” follows next. This track is built around the band’s funky rhythm section. The drums embrace a lo-fi hip-hop swing while the bass guitar goes full-on jazz mode. When the electric guitars come in with their walls of distortion, and the drummer starts smashing cymbals with gusto, it feels like a different song or almost like a different band than we’ve been listening to up to this point. The vocals in “On Time” also seem to utilize some cool effects that lend a sci-fi vibe to the song’s epic crescendo at the end. Speaking of sci-fi, the EP’s closing tune, “The Birth,” changes things up with some excellent keyboards and synthesizers. The vocals also sound very reminiscent of 90’s shoegaze goodness. The four songs on The Fallacy go by way too quickly. Be ready to abuse that replay button a lot in 2025!