Krosis, “Hyacinth (Rejections of a Holistic Divine)” | Outlandish Rock

On the 4^th edition of Outlandish Rock , we explore the outlandishness behind “Hyacinth (Rejections of a Holistic Divine)” performed by Krosis.  

B

ring on the outlandishness! Outlandish Rock is a column that falls under the umbrella of Controversial Tunes .  Like its parent column, Outlandish Rock provides background information and insight into rock and metal songs that raise eyebrows and stir the pot.  The records featured on Outlandish Rock can be classic or brand new. On the 4^th edition of Outlandish Rock (2022), we explore the outlandishness behind the song, “Hyacinth (Rejections of a Holistic Divine)” performed by Krosis.

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Theme & Lyrics  

“One lone purple hyacinth now signifies my consecration / A nihilistic error breathing in the smoke of failure.” Woo! Cutting straight to chase, the song title, “Hyacinth (Rejections of a Holistic Divine)” is O-U-T-L-A-N-D-I-S-H!  “Everlasting sorrow with no hope for a tomorrow / I’ll leave this macrocosm once I’m sure no life will blossom.” Well, damn! This outlandish record appears as the fifth track on E.V.I.L., the 2022 studio album by North Carolina progressive death metal band, Krosis. Listening to “Hyacinth,” it’s difficult to decipher what vocalist Mac Smith is singing without the lyrics in front of you.  Fortunately, I had the lyrics and listened very closely, and let me tell you, they’re outlandish peeps!

“Tragedy is upon us

What will be done to persecute these visions?

Sinister and pernicious

Rightful rejections of the god of wisdom.” 

Say what? One thing I heart about “Hyacinth (Rejections of a Holistic Divine)” is how dark the lyrics are, as well as how poetically penned they are.  Just this excerpt is thought-provoking and of course, damning.  The thing is, so many lyrics by death metal bands are clever and go deeper than much of mainstream music.  That said, keep scrolling through the lyrics and listening, and you understand why a record like “Hyacinth (Rejections of a Holistic Divine)” wouldn’t top the pop charts:

“Caught within the fires of frustration with no chance to rebuild

Brutal rejection of sacrosanctic values ever unfulfilled

Premonitions felt among us

What is done to persecute these visions?

Cataleptic and nefarious

Brutal rejection of sacrosanctic values ever unfulfilled.”

Hold up – vocabulary refresher needed! Sacrosantic? Cataleptic? Nefarious? If something is sacrosanct,  it is holy .  So, Krosis sings about rejecting holy values.  Catalepsy, a form of cataleptic, is a trancelike state marked by loss of voluntary motion in which the limbs remain in whatever position they are placed. Okay… As for nefarious, the simplest word of the three, in my opinion, it’s evil or immoral.  Basically, put it all together, and we have a perfect theme of for a death metal band.

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Final Thoughts

I could go so much deeper analyzing “Hyacinth (Rejections of a Holistic Divine).”  The songwriting may be dark and negative, but it’s brilliant.  The music, as to be expected, is harsh – heavy-hitting to say the least.  Krosis isn’t a band for everyone, but if you enjoy some unholy Outlandish Rock , they are sure to tickle your fancy!

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Krosis • E.V.I.L. • Seek & Strike • 1.28.22

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Krosis, “Hyacinth (Rejections of a Holistic Divine)”: Outlandish Rock No. 4 [: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Paul Brennan on Pixabay, Pexels, Sebastian Ervi, Seek & Strike, SHVETS production, Vinícius Caricatte]

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