Release date:   18 April 2025
Label: Vicisolum Productions

Intro

Hailing from Athens, Greece, instrumental quartet King García are here to create genre-bending cinematic soundscapes. Political in nature, the group dedicates their music to those living in communities infested with rats, from politicians to patriarchs. The band’s story began in 2019, when Kostas (Mother of Millions), Kornilios (Dyskinesia), Kamil (POEM), and Alex (Bandallusia) decided to bring their talents together. However, it wasn’t until recording sessions in 2023 that the group created their first album together. This album, named after the town in which the Pied Piper famously marched out the rats, is Hamelin.

The Album

The album opens with Prelude: Rats!, a brief and simple track with drumbeats that feel almost tribal in nature. Following this is the choral Anise, the track swelling to a crescendo early on before falling away to quick-paced drums. A mildly heavy guitar combines with the classical clarinet over rhythmically pounding drums to create a powerful and haunting atmosphere. Next, the previously released single Sweat makes beautiful use of the djenty guitar mixed with the mysteriousness of the clarinet. Both sweltering hot and oddly chilling, this is a stand-out track that tells a carefully crafted story. After this is the sweet and soft Magnolia, an almost agonizingly slow waltz built upon a wandering trumpet and carried by a curious bass. Though it gains oomph through the guitar, the pace never increases, steady and sure as a boat on the water.

Halfway through is the titular Hamelin, which involves a repetitive clarinet interrupted frequently by an impatient guitar and waiting drums. When the track fully starts, it is subdued and a little stilted, subtly raising itself until it comes crashing down. Coming off the previous, We Echo features a lengthy soundbite as the music shakes itself awake, trumpet and guitar collaborating. This track continually rises, as if reaching for the heavens, always falling short but dusting itself off to try again. Next is Closer, slow and cold, the guitar searching for its way while other strings are quietly plucked. The change from beginning to end is sudden, all instruments playing their own distinct, separate parts in a pleasant cacophony. The last track on the album, The Day We Lost Everything, is also the longest by far. A storm melts away to emptiness, the guitar weaving through the fog and guided by a ghostly clarinet. The music here changes as frequently as it chooses, sometimes rough, other times gentle, always seeking clarity until abruptly ending.

A Final Word

One description of King García declares the group to be similar to if Ennio Morricone created a band with Russian Circles. This description is apt, but there is more to it than that. King García have created their own world with their music, painting a portrait of hope within ruination. One can hear the care taken with every note and can feel the story being told even if it isn’t immediately understandable. A good instrumental band can be hard to find, but if you’re looking for a new one to try, King García is an excellent place to start.

Line up:

• Kostas Konstantinidis (he/him) – Guitar
• Kornilios Kiriakidis (he/him) – Bass
• Kamil Kamieniecki (he/him) – Drums
• Alex Orfanos (he/him) – Trumpet & Clarinet

• Konstantinos Lazos (he/him) – Gaida & Kaval
• Iakovos Molybakis (he/him) -Percussion

Links:

Official
Bandcamp
Facebook