Symphonic metal titans Grotesco Karma unveil ‘Theatrical God’

Athenian dark symphonic metal band Grotesco Karma have signed with The Circle Music for the release of their second full-length album, “Metanoia”, scheduled for 26 March 2027. The first single, “Theatrical God”, is out now. 

Listen to the track: https://thecirclemusic.lnk.to/TheatricalGod

In the context of the larger themes surrounding redemption, ritual, guilt, and spiritual corruption contained in the album, the song redefines religious authority as a macabre theatre. This revolves around a faith-based individual coming face-to-face with a deity who has created humanity’s weakness, put humans through the process of temptation, and then condemned them for their own fall from grace. This form of faith becomes a system whereby guilt is inherent in the script, punishment is salvation, and humanity performs in a cycle they did not choose. The constant references to theatre turn the dynamics between the faithful worshiper and the deity into an eerie play, where the god plays the parts of the playwright, director, and the judge.

The band said:

“We wanted ‘Theatrical God’ to feel like a grand ceremony slowly revealing itself as a trial, where humanity is condemned for a fall it never chose. The orchestra becomes part of that drama, binding faith, guilt and transformation into the world of Metanoia. As our first release with The Circle Music, it marks the beginning of a new chapter for Grotesco Karma, and we’re proud to begin it together.”

Grotesco Karma are an Athens-based occult symphonic metal band, forging a distinct sound where grand orchestration, extreme metal, avant-garde composition and ritualistic atmosphere converge.

Having released “Devil’s Menuet” in early 2025 and with plenty of international performances behind them, the band have completed a European tour alongside Imperial Age, a headline Balkan tour, two appearances in Turkey, and a major performance in Dubai alongside Rotting Christ. Their expanding international presence continues with their Latin American headline run in 2026.

Now signed to The Circle Music, Grotesco Karma enter their most ambitious era with Metanoia, a monumental new album featuring a live string orchestra (Violione String Orchestra and conductor Pavlos Elinas, and Orchestral Artistic Director Ioannis Zarias) and exploring themes of repentance, spiritual corruption and transformation. Rather than functioning as an ornamental layer, the orchestra is woven directly into the core compositions to heighten the ceremonial tension of each piece. 

Pre-order “Metanoia”: https://thecirclemusic.gr/product-category/distributed-stuff/?filter_artist-name=grotesco-karma 

Pre-save album: https://thecirclemusic.lnk.to/Metanoia

“Metanoia” tracklist: 
1. Mnesthete
2. Anosiourgema
3. Theatrical God
4. Gesthemane
5. Testament of the Serpent
6. Apparatus of Delirium
7. Ikesia
8. Gospel of the Wound
9. Metanoia
10. Oratorio Grottesco (CD Bonus Track)

Driven by orchestral intensity, grotesque religious imagery and an uncompromising artistic vision, Grotesco Karma transforms each performance into something beyond a concert: a ceremony of sound, darkness and revelation.

Grotesco Karma Latin America Tour 2026:
27 Nov – Durango
28 Nov – Sn. L. Potosi
29 Nov – Uruapan
3 Dec – Oaxaca
4 Dec – Mexico
5 Dec – Nicaragua
6 Dec – Guatemala