With CALIGULA, Kristin Hayter (aka LINGUA IGNOTA) has delved deep into themes of control, domestic abuse, violence, vengeance, depravity, love and most importantly, transformation to create a truly unsettling yet hugely rewarding album.
There is catharsis in Caligula, yes, but it’s not pleasurable. It hurts. It tears.
Lingua Ignota's second full-length CALIGULA continues her blend of opera, neoclassical darkwave, and death industrial. She transforms shattering lamentations into empowered declarations against misogyny, while also complicating the dominant narratives of women's trauma.
Caligula is an even more incredible journey to hell than its predecessor.
With Caligula, she has created a murderous amalgam of opera, metal, and noise that uses her classical training like a Trojan Horse, burning misogyny to ash from its Judeo-Christian roots.
Emphasising the rage and despair of survivors of abuse, Kristin Hayter uses a unique palette including metal, folk and noise.
The push-pull between fragile piano and ruptures of psychic static is arresting, but by far Kristin’s most captivating weapon is her voice.
There is no doubt that "Caligula" is a gripping experience that instantly engages with its listeners ... But with that said, again, the impact is diluted due to the relative sense of repetition. Regardless, the undeniably therapeutic album is powerful and worthy of recognition for straying from the regular templates of extreme music.
Caligula, her second album, combines black metal with experimental noise and her operatic vocal training to create a sonic aesthetic that is terrifying in some moments and immensely emotionally affecting in others.
Following her independently released debut “All Bitches Die”, Kristin Hayter, aka Lingua Ignota, developed a small but loud cult following that appreciated her approach to death industrial. However, I don’t think even her fans expected the impactful blow that was her followup, “Caligula” - an emotionally devastating listen of an album that is equally great as it is hard to listen to.
That last sentence probably needs some clarification for those who haven’t ... read more
I'm glad I didn't let this album slip by me. I assumed I would enjoy it from what people have been describing it as. If you like Chelsea Wolf, Droney, black, and/or industrial types of metal, or anything in that territory this is worth a shot. Definitely a favorite for the year and a pleasant surprise.
A really unique, heavy, and dark experience that makes me feel tiny and useless.
OH MY GOD, I'M TERRIFIED!!!
CALIGULA is the 3rd album from American singer Lingua Ignota, released in July 2019. It was recorded at Machines with Magnets in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
It marked as a departure from the recording process of her previous album All Bitches Die, which was composed alone in a shed in the woods and relying more on acoustic instrumentation.
You know, I always say to myself I'm prepared for what I'm getting myself into after hearing Kristin's other material a while ... read more
Lingua Ignota + Reverend Kristen Michael Hayter (3/6)
Move aside Taylor, Kristen Hayter is the REAL Tortured Poet. Lingua Ignota's Caligula is fucking angelic in a hellish, traumatic way. The industrial dominated sound of this album adds so much more to Hayter's music, especially when it comes to the violent, blood-curdling screams. Everything is elevated to express Hayter's fantastic song-craft.
Acho tão bom quanto o antecessor. Agressivo, brutal, aterrorizante e barulhento. Mas, ao mesmo tempo, sensível, frágil, etéreo e distante. Somente uma mente genial conseguira representar tão bem uma mente confusa e corroída. Por ter mais músicas e uma duração um pouco maior, pode ficar maçante em um momento ou em outro, mas logo já rouba sua atenção novamente.
goddamn.. i had to take a deep breath after this one. this thing is so mentally daunting, but it's definitely worth a listen.
1 | FAITHFUL SERVANT FRIEND OF CHRIST 4:42 | 92 |
2 | DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR 9:34 | 97 |
3 | BUTCHER OF THE WORLD 6:33 | 93 |
4 | MAY FAILURE BE YOUR NOOSE 4:32 | 95 |
5 | FRAGRANT IS MY MANY FLOWER'D CROWN 5:07 | 91 |
6 | IF THE POISON WON'T TAKE YOU MY DOGS WILL 6:30 | 95 |
7 | DAY OF TEARS AND MOURNING 4:43 | 92 |
8 | SORROW! SORROW! SORROW! 6:31 | 88 |
9 | SPITE ALONE HOLDS ME ALOFT 7:24 | 93 |
10 | FUCKING DEATHDEALER 2:32 | 83 |
11 | I AM THE BEAST 7:53 | 95 |
#2 | / | Decibel |
#4 | / | The Needle Drop |
#6 | / | Metal Hammer |
#7 | / | Crack Magazine |
#13 | / | BrooklynVegan |
#18 | / | Norman Records |
#19 | / | musicOMH |
#23 | / | No Ripcord |
#24 | / | PopMatters |
#28 | / | Noisey |