GPKism - Sublimis

Sublimis is the first release of a new, very unique band. GPKism is the creation of GPK (vocals, mixing and synthesizer) in combination with Kiwamu (BLOOD) on guitar. Creating electronic symphonies of the darkest night and gothic love songs, their music is deceptively vibrant, with the nostalgic melodies weaving a twisted ideal of romance. This release becomes the gateway to GPK’s electronic baroque kingdom, submerging the listener in a world of his creation.

OMNIA, the intro, is wistfully welcoming with a soothing, soft chorus. Then, the piercing beat of SYNTHESIS builds up, fully introducing a new found world of baroque. Even though the beat is stays strong a black tinted melody takes over, with the voice of GPK powerfully supporting the rich composition. But beware: this is not the gloomy black of Edgar Allan Poe’s crow but a glorious darkness, celebrating the music and the joy of the composition itself.

The ending, quite abrupt, leads into METEMPSYKOSIS, another dark flavored track. The tempo slows down and the vocals become tranquil and well defined. Its duration exceeds the seven minutes. However, the appealing sorrow of the guitar lines alternating with the uplifting electronic parts keep the song interesting. Following is IMMACULATIS, whose chorus, guitar lines, drums and overpowering vocals give it an epic edge. The song is mellowed down with some light violin playing and crystal, reverberating electronic sounds.

The next song is THANATOSIS, which translates as 'the act of dying.' The atmosphere gets accordingly thicker, and the poetic lyrics assist in creating an apocalyptic, morose image. This beautiful and solid composition makes for the perfect lead into the brightest moment of the album, SUBLIMIS. An up-tempo jewel of a song, all the characteristic elements of GPKism merge seamlessly together. The guitar is omnipresent throughout the track, the electronic elements are elegant and polished and GPK’s voice is at its very best. Regrettably, the song is over too fast and the whispers of the closing track SANKTUS fade in and out, ending the album.

Each listen to Sublimis will leave a strong bittersweet feeling, an accomplishment made possible partly because of the fitting arrangement of the tracks. The CD’s simple but elegant jacket dressing, together with the beautiful graphics courtesy of the multitalented GPK, further the overall dulcet melancholy of this release. Though GPKism might still have a long way ahead of them, Sublimis proves that they do have that certain undefined element which makes a band impossible to ignore.