Chrch

Chrch is a doom metal group from Sacramento, United States, active since 2013. The band is pronounced “Church” and is centred on Karl Cordtz. It forms around a quintet line-up and develops a sound rooted in doom metal, with influences from traditional doom, sludge, drone, psych rock and ambience.

Career and style

Chrch begins work in late 2013 and focuses on music rather than image or gimmick. Its approach emphasises the basic elements of the genre and its offshoots, with songwriting that moves between minimal, indulgent and straightforward forms. The band’s sound combines raw power with dynamic structures, occult themes, grimy reverb and a strong melodic element.

Unanswered Hymns

The band’s debut album, Unanswered Hymns, presents a wide emotional range, including sorrow, loss and redemption. It is recorded, mixed and mastered by Patrick Hills at Earthtone Studios in Rocklin, California, and is noted for a warm, organic tone. The album is issued on cassette by Transylvanian Tapes and on vinyl by Battleground Records.