Ethereal Metal

Ryan Murray | Co-Owner | Chief Editor | Contributor | Photographer

r.m.music84@gmail.com

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Heavy music isn’t always about punishing breakdowns or blistering riffs—it’s about impact, the weight of vulnerability, and the way a song can crawl under your skin, making your pulse race with nothing more than an eerie melody or a whisper before the storm. That’s exactly where Katerina Nicole thrives on her debut EP, Serene in Violent Oceans. She doesn’t just present a collection of songs; she creates an experience, a journey through turbulence and beauty, darkness and catharsis.

From the very first note, this EP makes one thing clear—Katerina isn’t here to play it safe. She’s embracing contrasts, walking the tightrope between fragility and sheer force, letting each track breathe before it crashes into something monumental. The way she balances ethereal soundscapes with crushing intensity places her firmly among 2025’s rising multi-genre ambient rock forces like Spiritbox and Gore., but there’s something uniquely her about this—an emotional rawness that feels deeply personal, almost sacred.

Take the opener, “Catch My Breath,” which starts with these eerie, otherworldly synths that immediately set a haunting tone. It’s the kind of intro that pulls you into a dreamlike state, but before you can fully settle in, the chorus slams in—big, dramatic, and packed with power. The contrast between Katerina’s soaring cleans and an unexpected aggressive vocal hit makes the track unpredictable in the best way. And the hook? It’s one of those melodies that burrows into your brain, refusing to leave. The song doesn’t just introduce you to the EP; it drags you into its world and dares you to stay.

Then there’s “House of Cards,” which leans into a catchier, more melodic space. It still has that signature edge—like a blade hidden beneath velvet—but the pop-rock sensibilities shine through in a way that feels anthemic rather than soft. It’s a moment of strength within the storm, where resilience takes center stage. You can hear it in the way the chorus climbs, the way the instrumentation builds rather than attacks. There’s something almost defiant about it, as if the song itself is standing tall despite the wreckage around it.

“Emotionally” is where things get even more intimate. True to its name, this track is all about weight—the weight of words left unsaid, of emotions too heavy to carry alone. The intro is deceptively soft, giving Katerina’s voice space to breathe, to stretch across the delicate instrumentation. But just when you think it’s going to remain in that vulnerable space, the song shifts. There’s this undeniable urgency in the way the melodies swell, the way the drums kick in like a racing heartbeat. It’s not just about feeling something—it’s about demanding that those feelings be acknowledged, be heard.

And then there’s “Darkling,” which might be the most intense, emotionally and sonically. If Serene in Violent Oceans is a journey, this is the moment when the storm reaches its peak. The song doesn’t let up—it moves like a relentless current, surging and pulling, never quite letting you find solid ground. There’s something beautifully chaotic about it, a sense of loss and discovery happening simultaneously. It’s breathtaking, but not in a gentle way—more like the kind of breathtaking that leaves you shaken, like being caught in a riptide and realizing you have no choice but to surrender to it.

Then, finally, we get to “What I Know Now,” the perfect closer. This is where everything comes full circle—the beauty, the brutality, the lessons learned along the way. Katerina’s vocals are at their most commanding here, soaring over a growing intensity that feels both triumphant and terrifying. There’s this moment, right before the final breakdown, where dissonance creeps in like a shadow before the fall, and then—boom. It hits. The growls, the in-your-face breakdown, the sheer force of everything that’s been building across the EP, all unleashed in one final, cathartic moment. It’s not just an ending; it’s a reckoning. Serene in Violent Oceans is more than just an impressive debut—it’s a statement. Katerina Nicole isn’t afraid to wade into the deep, to explore the push and pull of light and darkness, to create music that isn’t just heard but felt. This EP is an invitation into the storm, but it’s also proof that there’s beauty to be found within it. And if this is just the beginning, then we’re in for something truly special.

VERDICT: 4.0/5.0