# The Sacrificial Code

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***The Sacrificial Code*** is a studio album by American composer [Kali Malone](/source/Kali_Malone). It was released on June 28, 2019, through iDEAL Recordings. It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[2]

## Background

Kali Malone is an American composer born in [Colorado](/source/Colorado) and based in [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm), Sweden.[3] *The Sacrificial Code* is her first solo album since *Cast of Mind* (2018).[4] She created the album while finishing a master's thesis in electroacoustic composition at the [Royal College of Music, Stockholm](/source/Royal_College_of_Music,_Stockholm).[5] It includes additional organ work from [Ellen Arkbro](/source/Ellen_Arkbro).[4] It was released on June 28, 2019, through iDEAL Recordings.[6]

The reissue edition was released on April 11, 2025, through Ideologic Organ.[7] It includes a new arrangement of the title track recorded in 2023 on a 16th-century organ at Malmö Konstmuseum.[8]

## Critical reception

[2]

Lewis Gordon of *[Resident Advisor](/source/Resident_Advisor)* wrote, "Its uniformity, as well as the intense slowness to Malone's performance, help make the tracks feel as if they're merging into one another, prompting a strange, temporal disorientation."[9] He added, "Like some of the most affecting drone music, *The Sacrificial Code* is imbued with almost magical, time-stretching properties. "[9] Philip Sherburne of *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))* stated, "In its bracing purity and focused intent, it remains a high-water mark in her catalog."[10]

### Accolades

Year-end lists for The Sacrificial Code Publication List Rank Fact The Best Albums of 2019 — [11] Pitchfork The Best Experimental Albums of 2019 — [1] The Wire Releases of the Year (2019 Rewind) 7 [12]

## Personnel

Credits adapted from the 2019 original edition's liner notes.[13]

- [Kali Malone](/source/Kali_Malone) – performance, recording
- Karl Sjölund – recording assistance (4–6)
- [Ellen Arkbro](/source/Ellen_Arkbro) – performance (7–10)
- Rasmus Persson – recording (7–10)
- Rashad Becker – mastering
- A.M. Rehm – photography

## References

1. ["The Best Experimental Albums of 2019"](https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-experimental-albums-2019/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. December 16, 2019. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200229014200/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-experimental-albums-2019/) February 29, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. ["Sacrificial Code by Kali Malone"](https://www.metacritic.com/music/sacrificial-code/kali-malone). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220611144756/https://www.metacritic.com/music/sacrificial-code/kali-malone) June 11, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. Simpson, Paul. ["Kali Malone"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kali-malone-mn0003735027). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. Cetin, Marissa (June 28, 2019). ["Kali Malone releases new album, The Sacrificial Code"](https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/44023). *[Resident Advisor](/source/Resident_Advisor)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201115200207/https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/44023) November 15, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. Eede, Christian (February 26, 2025). ["Kali Malone Unveils 'The Sacrificial Code' Reissue"](https://thequietus.com/news/kali-malone-unveils-the-sacrificial-code-reissue/). *[The Quietus](/source/The_Quietus)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250328160047/https://thequietus.com/news/kali-malone-unveils-the-sacrificial-code-reissue/) March 28, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. JasonC (June 27, 2019). ["Kali Malone announces new album The Sacrificial Code, featuring a paltry two hours of organ pieces"](https://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/kali-malone-announces-new-album-sacrificial-code-featuring-paltry-two-hours-organ-pieces). *[Tiny Mix Tapes](/source/Tiny_Mix_Tapes)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200923070341/https://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/kali-malone-announces-new-album-sacrificial-code-featuring-paltry-two-hours-organ-pieces) September 23, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. DeVille, Chris (February 26, 2025). ["Kali Malone Announces The Sacrificial Code Reissue, Shares New Track"](https://www.stereogum.com/2298444/kali-malone-announces-the-sacrificial-code-reissue-shares-new-track/music/). *[Stereogum](/source/Stereogum)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250315053200/https://www.stereogum.com/2298444/kali-malone-announces-the-sacrificial-code-reissue-shares-new-track/music/) March 15, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. Strauss, Matthew (February 26, 2025). ["Kali Malone Announces New Sacrificial Code Reissue, Shares Song: Listen"](https://pitchfork.com/news/kali-malone-announces-new-sacrificial-code-reissue-shares-song-listen/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250322070010/https://pitchfork.com/news/kali-malone-announces-new-sacrificial-code-reissue-shares-song-listen/) March 22, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. Gordon, Lewis (August 23, 2019). ["Kali Malone - The Sacrificial Code"](https://www.residentadvisor.net/reviews/24081). *[Resident Advisor](/source/Resident_Advisor)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190903024059/https://www.residentadvisor.net/reviews/24081) September 3, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. Sherburne, Philip (April 12, 2025). ["Kali Malone: The Sacrificial Code"](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/kali-malone-the-sacrificial-code/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250528232422/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/kali-malone-the-sacrificial-code/) May 28, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. ["The best albums of 2019"](https://www.factmag.com/2019/12/19/the-best-albums-of-2019/). *[Fact](/source/Fact_(UK_magazine))*. December 19, 2019. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200810063407/https://www.factmag.com/2019/12/19/the-best-albums-of-2019/) August 10, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

1. "Releases of the Year". *[The Wire](/source/The_Wire_(magazine))*. No. 431. January 2020. pp. 29–34.

1. ["The Sacrificial Code (2019 edition) | KALI MALONE"](https://kalimalone.bandcamp.com/album/the-sacrificial-code-2019-edition). *[Bandcamp](/source/Bandcamp)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250604114109/https://kalimalone.bandcamp.com/album/the-sacrificial-code-2019-edition) June 4, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

## Further reading

- Helfand, Raphael (May 15, 2023). ["Catholic fundamentalists force cancellation of Kali Malone church concert"](https://www.thefader.com/2023/05/15/catholic-fundamentalists-force-cancellation-of-kali-malone-church-concert). *[The Fader](/source/The_Fader)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240305102851/https://www.thefader.com/2023/05/15/catholic-fundamentalists-force-cancellation-of-kali-malone-church-concert) March 5, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- Monroe, Jazz (May 15, 2023). ["Kali Malone Church Concert Canceled After Far-Right Catholics Protest "Profane" Song Titles"](https://pitchfork.com/news/kali-malone-church-concert-canceled-after-far-right-catholics-protest-profane-song-titles/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230718221017/https://pitchfork.com/news/kali-malone-church-concert-canceled-after-far-right-catholics-protest-profane-song-titles/) July 18, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Sacrificial Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sacrificial_Code) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sacrificial_Code?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.