Tag Archives: greece

Album Review – Dogtag Remains / Forgotten Battlefields (2024)

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An unrelenting Greek brigade will head into the battlefield armed with their brand new opus, consisting of eight war songs full of Death Metal riffing carnage, furious blast beats and cavernous filthy vocals.

Co-released by Satanath Records with Australis Records, the infuriated Forgotten Battlefields, the brand new album by Athens, Greece-based Death Metal band Dogtag Remains, will definitely crush you like an insect with its warlike-inspired old school extreme sounds. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Nick Setesh at Adyton Recordings, and displaying an obscure artwork by Julián Felipe Mora Ibanez, the album consists of eight war songs full of Death Metal riffing carnage, furious blast beats and cavernous filthy vocals, all carefully brought into being by Kostas Eleftheriadis on vocals and bass, Thanos Kougioulis and Jim Pastos on the guitars, and Vaggelis Kavalieratos on drums, being highly recommended for fans of Hail of Bullets, Grave, Skeletal Remains, and Dead Congregation, among several other amazing bands.

The album couldn’t have started in a more ferocious or heavier way then with Encirclement, with the crushing drums by Vaggelis hammering our cranial skulls in the name of old school Death Metal, and they put the pedal to the metal and keep consuming our souls in Varsity, with Kostas roaring rabidly supported by the austere riffafge by Thanos and Jim. Aachen, the third track of the album, brings sheer heaviness and obscurity to our avid ears, with Vaggelis dictating the song’s sluggish pace while Kostas gnarls and blasts his bass in great fashion, whereas The Glomfjord Power Plant offers us all six minutes of pure dementia in the form of Death Metal where the band’s guitar duo continues to slash their axes nonstop for our total delight, resulting in one of the most complex and detailed of all songs.

Then their classic Death Metal sounds keep piercing our minds in Behind Enemy Lines, with Kostas barking like a beast while Vaggelis sounds ruthless behind his drums, followed by The Man Who Never Was, another avalanche of brutality and violence by Dogtag Remains, living up to the legacy of the genre thanks to another infernal performance by Vaggelis on drums as well as Thanos and Jim on the guitars. It looks like their Death Metal onrush has no time to end based on the violence emanating from Landed Southward, with Kostas leading his bandmates with his sick growling and rumbling bass; and lastly, we’re treated to Hill 731, inspired by the Battle of Hill (Height) 731, a fierce battle fought during World War II in southern Albania, part of the Greco-Italian War, closing the album on a high note with more of the band’s trademark Death Metal assault.

If you have what it takes to face the horrors of war blasted by Dogtag Remains in their new album Forgotten Battlefields, you can start following such talented Greek brigade on Facebook and on Instagram for more of their music, and of course their tour dates. And above all that, go purchase a copy of the album (which is by the way available in full on YouTube) from the Satanath Records’ BandCamp page and support the underground, joining Dogtag Remains in the battlefield and fighting side by side with them in the name of old school Death Metal.

Best moments of the album: Varsity, The Glomfjord Power Plant and The Man Who Never Was.

Worst moments of the album: Aachen.

Released in 2024 Satanath Records/Australis Records

Track listing
1. Encirclement 4:54
2. Varsity 5:15
3. Aachen 5:53
4. The Glomfjord Power Plant 6:09
5. Behind Enemy Lines 5:08
6. The Man Who Never Was 5:28
7. Landed Southward 4:24
8. Hill 731 6:52

Band members
Kostas Eleftheriadis – vocals, bass
Thanos Kougioulis – guitars
Jim Pastos – guitars
Vaggelis Kavalieratos – drums

Album Review – Waves Idle Symmetry / Ametron (2024)

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This talented Black Metal duo hailing form Greece will take you on a stunning and grim journey to the sound of their first full-length album.

Formed in 2021 Chalcis, also called Chalkida or Halkida, the chief city of the island of Euboea or Evia in Greece, the talented Black Metal duo Waves Idle Symmetry is ready to unleash upon humanity their first full-length opus, titled Ametron, following up on their 2022 debut EP Thalassa. Recorded, mixed and mastered by David Prudent at Made in Hell Studio, and displaying a classy artwork by Alexandra Kyritsi, the album presents a much stronger and focused duo comprised of G.K. on vocals, guitars and bass, and C.D. on drums, expanding their music to further horizons by including progressive and technical elements to their sound while always remaining loyal to their core Black Metal essence, turning the journey through the nine tracks of the album into a truly engaging one for all admirers of the genre.

The Middle-Eastern acoustic guitar by G.K. kicks off the Black Metal feast Adrift In Aegean, quickly morphing into an overdose of sharp riffs and blast beats while G.K.’s both clean vocals and demonic roars exhale madness, followed by Waves Aligned, again presenting the duo’s pensive lyrics (“Deserted eyes / Sparking hate and sorrow / Reflecting the uncertainty / That grows inside me / A monster becoming / Fed in a nest of apathy / Egoism reacts in order / To defeat the misery”) amidst a bold, piercing and extreme onrush of old school Black Metal magic. C.D. then delivers intricate yet visceral beats in the headbanging tune Resilient, accompanied by the always incendiary riffage by G.K., whereas the title-track Ametron offers our putrid ears another overdose of hatred, obscurity and fire led by the crushing beats by C.D., flowing into a melancholic, grim sound in All These That Ends, where the gnarls by G.K. exhale endless evil, therefore offering us all pure Black Metal until the very last second.

Then leaning towards contemporary Melodic Black Metal the duo crushes our souls in Mindweaver, bringing forward more of their harsh gnarling, blast beats and incendiary riffs, as well as interesting switches between their more old school sound and their more melodic passages; and it’s time to break our necks headbanging in the name of evil in The Sun Of Despair, with G.K. and C.D. generating a beautiful Black Metal atmosphere with their guitars and drums while G.K. keeps vociferating manically nonstop. The Pillars Of Dignity presents more of their poetic words (“The innocence ends / As reality of failure strikes / Taste how it feels / To reach rock bottom / And trying to stand on your feet / Saviors drift apart / Numbness buried deep inside”) while the music remains imposing and cryptic during the song’s four minutes; whereas lastly the duo offers a climatic, epic tune titled Άπνοια, which is Greek for “apnea” or “shortness of breath”, alternating between demonic, harsh moments and more serene passages, with G.K. sounding evil with his roars and riffs.

While Waves Idle Symmetry are a Black Metal band, after listening to Ametron you’ll realize they’re not your regular Black Metal band, offering an array of styles in their sound to make things bolder and more interesting in the end. Hence, don’t forget to give them a shout on Facebook and stay updated with all things Waves Idle Symmetry, to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their music, and of course to grab a copy of their newborn beast Ametron from their own BandCamp page. I think I don’t need to say how awesome the Greek Black Metal scene has always been, and we must thank bands like Waves Idle Symmetry for keeping the spirit alive and for embellishing the airwaves with their fusion of darkness and melody like what they have to offer in their new album, while us fans will have another reason to keep praising the Hellenic gods of metal for always offering us such amazing bands.

Best moments of the album: Waves Aligned, Ametron and The Sun Of Despair.

Worst moments of the album: Resilient.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Adrift In Aegean 5:26
2. Waves Aligned 5:02
3. Resilient 4:52
4. Ametron 4:46
5. All These That Ends 6:03
6. Mindweaver 4:48
7. The Sun Of Despair 4:15
8. The Pillars Of Dignity 3:46
9. Άπνοια 5:46

Band members
G.K. – vocals, guitars, bass
C.D. – drums

Album Review – Spectral Lore / 11 Days EP (2023)

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Embark on a musical voyage together with this Greek Atmospheric Black Metal/Ambient entity, offering us all a powerful concept album about the refugee sea route to Europe through the Mediterranean sea.

A concept album about the refugee sea route to Europe through the Mediterranean sea, 11 Days is a very different album for Athens, Greece-based Atmospheric Black Metal/Ambient entity Spectral Lore, being its first album to feature a specifically political theme. Originally released as a digital album in March of 2023 with the aim to gather funds for refugee and migrant aiding collectives, it functions not just as a musical album with a fictional narrative based on real events, but also as a statement of protest against the policies of the European Union regarding refugees and migrants. Recorded, mixed and mastered by the band’s own mastermind, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ayloss (of Auriferous Flame, Clarent Blade, Divine Element, Fortress of the Pearl, Mystras, and several other amazing projects) at Stellar Auditorium, displaying a captivating artwork by Christina Chrysanthopoulou, and featuring an array of special guests, the album describes a fictional journey of survival through the Mediterranean sea using supernatural and mythic elements, in an attempt to tell such a story in a way consistent with Black Metal and Ambient aesthetics, being therefore recommended for fans of Mare Cognitum, Chaos Moon, Midnight Odyssey and Blut Aus Nord, among others.

Featuring guest vocals by an unknown member of Greek Black Metal horde Yovel, Moloch is a multi-layered, harsh and unique creation by Ayloss that alternates between classic Atmospheric Black Metal and Experimental Black Metal moments, with its visceral, cryptic vociferations being beautifully complemented by hammering drums and piercing Black Metal riffs, moving like an arrow on fire in pitch black darkness until the very last second. Then we have Fortitude/Sunrise, with synths, electronics and vocals by guest Nate Collins, another phantasmagorical and ethereal aria that will mercilessly enfold your damned soul for ten minutes. In other words, it’s the utmost definition of ambient music, with all elements connecting to each other to craft an ominous atmosphere; followed by Adro Onzi, featuring guest vocals by V. and a guest guitar solo by K. (both of Greek Black Metal act Voak), guest vocals by Sadistik, and synths by Odile Aurora Strik, an explosion of old school Black Metal with modern nuances that’s simply pulverizing from start to finish. Once again leaning towards Experimental Black Metal, the song showcases an amazing job done by all musicians involved, embellishing the airwaves for impressive 13 minutes and flowing into the also dense and mesmerizing Tremor/Kalunga Line, featuring synths, electronics and vocals by guests Nate Collins and Odile Aurora Strik, again venturing through the realms of atmospheric and ambient music, sounding very delicate yet also dark and grim, therefore closing the album on a whimsical note.

“These kinds of policies with the goal of violently curtailing immigration cause enormous death and suffering, as migrants are forced to take even more difficult and dangerous routes to avoid repression. The primary intention with this album is therefore to call out the xenophobic, nationalist and anti-immigrant ideologies that are still dominant today in Europe, under the veil of fake progressivism and pseudo-humanist rhetoric,” commented Ayloss about all issues going on in Europe, and you can get to know more details and find additional links about everything happening in the region on the project’s BandCamp page, where you can obviously purchase a copy of 11 Days (also available for a full listen on YouTube), as well as from the I, Voidhanger Records’ BandCamp page or from Throne Records as a CD or an LP, keeping in mind all sales from the digital version and proceeds from the physical editions will be donated to pro-refugee organizations and causes. You can also follow Ayloss and his Spectral Lore on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and stream more of the project’s music on Spotify, joining Ayloss on a musical journey where fantasy and reality collide in a truly compelling way, again proving how the power of music can have a very positive impact on our rotten and decaying world.

Best moments of the album: Moloch and Adro Onzi.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 I, Voidhanger Records/Throne Records

Track listing
1. Moloch 11:05
2. Fortitude/Sunrise 10:08
3. Adro Onzi 13:45
4. Tremor/Kalunga Line 9:02

Band members
Ayloss – vocals, all instruments

Guest musicians
Nate Collins – synths, electronics and vocals on “Fortitude/Sunrise” and “Tremor/Kalunga Line”
Odile Aurora Strik – synths on “Adro Onzi”, synths and field recording on “Tremor/Kalunga Line”
V. – vocals on “Adro Onzi”
K. – lead guitars on “Adro Onzi”
Sadistik – vocals on “Adro Onzi”
Unknown – vocals on “Moloch”

Album Review – Adventum Diaboli / Mørke (2023)

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A lone wolf from the Hellenic Black Metal scene returns with his tenth studio album, bringing sheer darkness to our damned hearts through the album’s impressive 52 minutes of music.

Many try to find solace in religion, but they offer no real answers. There is no ultimate meaning to existence, no grand design, no benevolent god watching over us. In the end, all we can do is accept our fate. We can find solace in the fact that we will eventually be swallowed by the great void and become one with the universe. Until then, we must live our lives with the knowledge that everything we do is ultimately meaningless. That’s the essence of what you’ll find in M​ø​rke (Norwegian for “darkness”), the impressive tenth studio album in ten years of existence by Volos, Greece-based Black Metal one-man army Adventum Diaboli, which means “The Arrival of Satan” in Latin. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Cosmic Lucifer Studios, and displaying a sinister artwork By Dimitris Kostopoulos, M​ø​rke is a classic and solid depiction of old school Black Metal by vocalist and instrumentalist Leviathan (aka Giorgos K.), once again proving why the extreme scene in Greece has been among the most fruitful and exciting ones for the past few decades.

A Doom Metal-infused intro titled The Death Of Light will darken your thoughts before Leviathan unleashes hell on earth in Demons Of My Youth, roaring and screaming in the name of evil while his guitars exhale an obscure lament that lives up to the legacy of classic Black Metal. In Eerie Existential Angst we’re treated to darkly poetic lyrics declaimed by Leviathan (“Mundane people passing by / Painted in blood / I see the sky / From horizon’s gloom / The impending doom”) while he delivers sinister yet mesmerizing riffs from his axe; and keeping the album at a high level of sulfur and darkness, Leviathan continues to crush his drums while also slashing his guitar strings in Reborn From Hellfire, generating a menacing ambience that continues in Air Of Despair, where a delicate yet grim intro evolves into another mid-tempo Black Metal feast offering our avid ears raw, melodic and caustic sounds until the very end. And Γαία Απόκοσμη offers more of Leviathan’s darkened, atmospheric sounds, with his anguished gnarls being fully inspired by contemporary Atmospheric Black Metal.

Featuring synths by guest musician Pan, which bring a touch of finesse to the overall result, De Nihil Philosophia is another melodic and enfolding Black Metal aria by Leviathan and his Adventum Diaboli, and get ready for more of Leviathan’s cryptic words in The Unholy Mysteries Of The Night (“Deep into the night’s dark / Of wisdom there’s not a spark / Secrets of life and death combined / A path not for the weak of mind”), while he generates at the same time a beyond Stygian ambience with his riffs and drums. Leviathan continues to masterfully show his love for all things darkness and evil in Soulless By Dawn, where his riffs sound haunting and austere, piercing our damned minds mercilessly; whereas the second to last blast of Black Metal by our lone wolf comes in the form of the melodic and melancholic The Grand Scheme Of Things, flowing into the ethereal outro The Absence of Meaning, putting a whimsical ending to the album.

The sinister and atmospheric M​ø​rke, which is available for a full and detailed listen on YouTube and on Spotify, definitely represents all the passion for the darkest side of music by Leviathan, and if you also want to show him how much you enjoy his music you can purchase the album from the project’s own BandCamp page or from Apple Music, and don’t forget to also start following Adventum Diaboli on Facebook and to subscribe to its YouTube channel for more Greek Black Metal madness by one of the most hardworking, devilish lone wolves of the extreme scene in his homeland. Let Leviathan and his Adventum Diaboli bring sheer darkness to your hearts to the sound of his newborn opus, helping him proudly carry the flag of Hellenic Black Metal all across our decaying world.

Best moments of the album: Eerie Existential Angst, De Nihil Philosophia and The Unholy Mysteries Of The Night.

Worst moments of the album: Reborn From Hellfire.

Released in 2023 Hellenic Metal World

Track listing
1. The Death Of Light (Intro) 2:09
2. Demons Of My Youth 5:10
3. Eerie Existential Angst 5:33
4. Reborn From Hellfire 4:25
5. Air Of Despair 5:31
6. Γαία Απόκοσμη 7:11
7. De Nihil Philosophia 4:23
8. The Unholy Mysteries Of The Night 4:41
9. Soulless By Dawn 4:36
10. The Grand Scheme Of Things 5:21
11. The Absence of Meaning 3:29

Band members
Leviathan – vocals, all instruments

Guest musician
Pan – drum programming on ”Reborn From Hellfire”, lead synth melody on ”De Nihil Philosophia”

Album Review – Aeonian Sorrow / Katara (2023)

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A stunning album of sorrow, grief and melancholy made in Finland and Greece, dedicated to the loving memory of the grandparents of the band’s own vocalist and keyboardist Gogo Melone.

A project of Melodic Gothic and Doom Metal yet funeral and spiritual music that describes the eternal sorrow and misery above the earth, human nature and instincts under the ownership of grief and pain, Finland/Greece-based outfit Aeonian Sorrow has just unleashed upon us their sophomore full-length opus, entitled Katara. Produced, mixed and mastered by Saku Moilanen at Deep Noise Studios, and displaying a stylish and epic artwork by the band’s own vocalist, keyboardist and renowned illustrator Gogo Melone, the album was inspired by the Katara pass, a mountain pass in the Pindus mountains in northern Greece. According to the legend, Katara got its name from a despot who around 1800 set out from Ioannina to go to Trikala, but the bad weather in the area made it so difficult for him that he died on the way, and he cursed the mountain. There are more stories written about this pass; however, Katara is also dedicated to the loving memory of Gogo’s grandparents Georgia and Michail, with the album music being beautifully crafted by Gogo alongside Joel Notkonen on vocals, Taneli Jämsä and Jukka Jauhiainen on the guitars, Achilleas Papagrigoriou on drums, and guest Oskar Englund on bass.

Anemos sounds doomed, grim and pensive from the very first second, with the delicate keys by Gogo bringing a touch of finesse to the music while Achilleas dictates the song’s pace with his sluggish beats, resulting in a powerful Melodic Doom Metal aria that will darken your mind in a stunning way. The band continues their obscure, melancholic path in Elumia, where the bass by Oskar sounds menacing while Gogo embellishes the airwaves with her charming vocals, in paradox with the harsh roars by Joel; and featuring guest vocalist Alejandro Lotero of Exgenesis (and former vocalist for Aeonian Sorrow), Ashes and Death showcases another solid job done by Taneli and Jukka with their Doom Metal-infused riffs and solos. Her Torment is a massive, bold creation by the band where Achilleas crushes our souls with his heavy-as-hell drums, perfect for some slow, intense headbanging in total darkness, followed by the title-track Katara, where once again we’re treated to a gloomy, ethereal feast of Melodic Gothic and Doom Metal spearheaded by the stunning vocals by Gogo, keeping the album as melancholic and emotional as it can be. They managed to get even more doomed and somber in Forbidden Cry, with the guitars by Taneli and Jukka reverberating in great fashion accompanied by Gogo’s passionate vocal performance; whereas lastly, serene, lugubrious piano notes set the tone in Ikuinen Suru (or “eternal sorrow” from Finnish), presenting their trademark slow and steady beats, deep, touching vocal lines, and crying guitars.

“On a personal level, I’ve been through enough difficult changes in my life that it almost made it impossible to keep myself motivated to complete this album. I said several times that I don’t want to do this and I almost didn’t. What kept me going was the reason I started this band and the promise I gave to the grandmother I lost back in 2020 and said that ‘Katara’ album will be recorded in her memory and her husband’s memory too. It will be done for all the years I spent driving to those scary ‘Katara’ roads to go see them. It will be done for each song I wrote inside their empty house when they were gone, and I left to watch the walls and nothing more. On a music level, I think the band has also been through enough and faced the financial critical moments to where we had to take choices, a bit unusual for us, and find ways to make things happen without losing ourselves and our quality. The path to success is full of heavy stones and very lonely so we do what we can and continue writing music from our hearts,” commented Gogo about the album. Hence, you can feel in detail all the sorrow, grief and melancholy from Katara by streaming the album in full on YouTube and on Spotify, by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, and obviously by purchasing Katara from their own BandCamp page or webstore, from Apple Music or from Amazon, joining Gogo and the boys on their doomed path through the Pindus mountains.

Best moments of the album: Anemos and Katara.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Anemos 8:35
2. Elumia 7:07
3. Ashes and Death 6:55
4. Her Torment 7:39
5. Katara 9:22
6. Forbidden Cry 6:21
7. Ikuinen Suru 7:13

Band members
Joel Notkonen – vocals
Gogo Melone – vocals, keyboards
Taneli Jämsä – guitars
Jukka Jauhiainen – guitars
Achilleas Papagrigoriou – drums

Guest musicians
Oskar Englund – bass (session)
Alejandro Lotero – harsh vocals on “Ashes and Death”

Album Review – Infernal Throne / Caelum Et Infernum (2023)

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This Blackened Thrash Metal beast from Greece will crush us all with their first full-length album, a tour de force that is nothing short of an auditory journey through chaos and darkness.

Formed in 2019 in Corinth, a city in south-central Greece, by vocalist and guitarist Panos Hliopoulos (of Corinthian thrash metallers Massive Pain) and vocalist and guitarist Greg Barlas (of legendary Corinthian Technical Thrash/Death Metal horde Extremity Obsession), but currently a one-man band comprised of Panos Hliopoulos,  the demonic Blackened Thrash Metal beast Infernal Throne has just unleashed upon humanity their first full-length album, titled Caelum Et Infernum, or “heaven and hell” from Latin. Produced, mixed and mastered by Panos Hliopoulos himself, and displaying a sick artwork by by Haris Burekas (with booklet and layouts by Rafael Tavares), not to mention all special guests featured in the album, Caelum Et Infernum is a must-listen for metal aficionados, offering our avid ears a 50-minute tour de force that is nothing short of an auditory journey through chaos and darkness, solidifying the band’s status as a rising force in the current Greek extreme music scene.

The atmospheric intro A World Of Chaos will darken the skies and get deep inside our minds before Panos comes ripping in Wings Of Winter, featuring his former bandmate Greg Barlas on vocals, bringing forward a massive wall of sounds crafted by the band’s mastermind offering classic Black Metal blast beats while the vocals by Greg are pure Hardcore. Then featuring Kerveros (Athos) on vocals, Desolation is a more cadenced metal hymn where all vocals sound a lot darker and more desperate, leaning towards old school Black Metal, which in the end works extremely well; and Greg Barlas returns in the pulverizing Among Two Worlds, showcasing damned words (“The light is lost / The light comes out / Thin red lines / They sacrifice your thought / You do their will / You follow the path / This path haunts you / Among two worlds”) amidst a heavy-as-hell fusion of Black and Thrash Metal, whereas the title-track Caelum Et Infernum presents the project in its most venomous form, with the caustic riffs and the hellish drums by Panos exhaling aggressiveness while his vocals sound utterly evil.

Panos keeps hammering his guitar, bass and drums in And Lead Us Not Into Temptation, resulting in a Blackened Thrash Metal onrush not recommended for the lighthearted while also showcasing some Atmospheric Black Metal nuances and passages. In Thy Flame Of Darkness, the ruthless Panos shows no mercy for our souls once again, blending the obscurity of Black Metal with the visceral Thrash Metal by Slayer, resulting in one of the most electrifying of all songs. Put differently, the whole song is pure madness, with his riffs sounding simply incendiary. And Greg Barlas returns for one final round in Cataclysm Of The Soul, also featuring Michalis Kripasis on bass and Nodens (Temple of Katharsis, Prometheus) on drums, with all  guests blasting their instruments nonstop until the very end ruthlessly; followed by Αιώνια Ζωή (Eternal Life), featuring Archon (Celtefog, Empathy) on vocals, bringing forward over seven minutes of Infernal Throne’s caustic Black Metal sonority, another tune where desperate vocals match perfectly with the thrashing riffs and beats by Panos, flowing into the obscure outro No Hope, No Pain, which is a good way to conclude the album albeit a bit too long (or maybe it needed to be more dynamic).

You can enjoy such sulfurous metal attack by Infernal Throne in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to show your utmost support to the multi-talented Panos Hliopoulos you can purchase a copy of the album from the band’s own BandCamp page, or from the Theogonia Records’ webstore. Don’t forget to also start following Infernal Throne on Facebook and on Instagram, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their caustic music. Panos did an amazing job representing the chaos between heaven and hell in the new album by Infernal Throne, proving once again why Greece has become the ultimate source of extreme music worldwide, therefore paving a very interesting path ahead of such talented and hardworking Greek musician (and I can’t wait to see what’s next in his thrilling career).

Best moments of the album: Desolation, Caelum Et Infernum and Thy Flame Of Darkness.

Worst moments of the album: No Hope, No Pain.

Released in 2023 Theogonia Records

Track listing
1. A World Of Chaos (Intro) 2:04
2. Wings Of Winter 3:03
3. Desolation 6:45
4. Among Two Worlds 5:27
5. Caelum Et Infernum 6:27
6. And Lead Us Not Into Temptation 5:57
7. Thy Flame Of Darkness 5:43
8. Cataclysm Of The Soul 4:09
9. Αιώνια Ζωή (Eternal Life) 7:10
10. No Hope, No Pain (Outro) 3:46

Band members
Panos Hliopoulos – vocals, all instruments

Guest musicians
Greg Barlas – vocals on “Wings Of Winter”, “Among Two Worlds” and “Cataclysm Of The Soul”
Kerveros – vocals on “Desolation”
Nodens – drums on “Cataclysm Of The Soul”
Archon – vocals on “Αιώνια Ζωή (Eternal Life)”
Michalis Kripasis – bass on “Cataclysm Of The Soul”

Album Review – Temple of Katharsis / Macabre Ritual (2023)

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Let the macabre dance begin to the sound of the debut opus by this ruthless Black Metal horde hailing from Greece.

A must to hear for fans of bands such as Rotting Christ, Varathron, Katavasia and Naer Mataron, among several others, the sulfurous Macabre Ritual is the long-awaited debut album from Greek Black Metal beast Temple of Katharsis, founded in 2011 in Kastoria, a city in northern Greece in the region of Western Macedonia. Currently formed of the band’s founder, vocalist and bassist Hellmaster 666 alongside guitarist Zeratul and drummer Nodens, Temple of Katharsis will take us to the depths of darkness in a harrowing exploration of Black Metal mastery that will leave you breathless. Produced, mixed and mastered by Major at H12 Audio, this abyssal odyssey features eight unholy hymns that will cast a malevolent spell upon all who dare to listen, resulting in a testament to the band’s unwavering dedication to their craft and the Black Metal genre.

The cinematic, somber intro Abyssal Cold Void will captivate your senses before the trio crushes our souls with The Burning Flood of Antichrist, where Hellmaster 666 barks and gnarls in a pure devilish manner in the name of old school Black Metal supported by the classic blast beats by Nodens and the scorching riffs by Zeratul. They keep blasting their infernal music, piercing our minds and souls mercilessly, in Erasure of Religious Existance, where Hellmaster 666 and Zeratul are on fire armed with their stringed axes, sounding perfect for some nonstop headbanging; followed by In the Dungeons with the Rats, displaying a beautiful name for another sulfurous creation by Temple of Katharsis, and those Greek black metallers continue their path of obscurity and hatred with their Stygian riffs and cryptic growls throughout the entire song without a single second of peace or hope.

Blending the past, present and future of Black Metal, it’s time for the melodic yet vile and visceral Ο Αρχιερεύς Των Λύκων (The Archpriest of the Wolves), spearheaded by the unstoppable drums by Nodens; and there’s no sign of the band slowing down as Inside the Medieval Crypt is total fuckin’ darkness led by the demonic growls by Hellmaster 666, who also shows no mercy for his bass. Then it’s time to open the gates of the underworld and let all creatures from the abys consume our damned souls to the sound of The Kingdom of Hades, a lesson in classic Black Metal where Zeratul delivers intricate, venomous riffs for our total delight, before the trio’s last breath of insanity and sulfur comes in the form of the title-track Macabre Ritual, where they incorporate elements from Melodic Black Metal and Doom Metal into their core blackened sound, resulting in a solid composition showcasing their usual aggressiveness (albeit a bit too repetitive for seven minutes of music).

Such devilish, macabre album of Black Metal made in Greece can be appreciated in all of its glory on YouTube and on Spotify, but in order to show your utmost support and admiration for Temple of Katharsis you should definitely purchase a copy of the album from the band’s own BandCamp page, from the Theogonia Records’ BandCamp page or webstore, or from Apple Music, and don’t forget to also give Temple of Katharsis a shout on Facebook. Let the macabre dance begin to the sound of the newborn spawn by this ruthless Greek trio, taking us all on a one-way journey to the pits of the underworld.

Best moments of the album: The Burning Flood of Antichrist, Ο Αρχιερεύς Των Λύκων (The Archpriest of the Wolves) and The Kingdom of Hades.

Worst moments of the album: Macabre Ritual.

Released in 2023 Theogonia Records

Track listing
1. Abyssal Cold Void (Intro) 2:19
2. The Burning Flood of Antichrist 5:03
3. Erasure of Religious Existance 6:02
4. In the Dungeons with the Rats 6:21
5. Ο Αρχιερεύς Των Λύκων (The Archpriest of the Wolves) 7:37
6. Inside the Medieval Crypt 7:14
7. The Kingdom of Hades 6:56
8. Macabre Ritual 7:05

Band members
Hellmaster 666 – vocals, bass
Zeratul – guitars
Nodens – drums

Album Review – Melan Selas / Zephyrean Hymns (2023)

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This uncanny Greek Black Metal duo is ready to unleash their sophomore opus, assaulting the listener by raging riffs and eerie screams while at times engrossed in seductive vocals travelling with dreamy melodies.

“A new dimension… Great new meaning.”

Consisting of eight songs that create a unique atmosphere, assaulting the listener by raging riffs and eerie screams while at times engrossed in seductive vocals travelling with dreamy melodies, Zephyrean Hymns is the sophomore opus by Trikala, Greece-based Black Metal duo Melan Selas, the follow-up to their 2019 debut effort Φάος. Formed in 2015 by D.K. (Riffobia, Katavasia), who handles all instruments, and Astraea (Oletir), responsible for all vocals and lyrics, the duo aims at breathing new life into the Black Metal scene with their new album, all embraced by the first-class recording and mixing by D.K. and Astraea themselves, the crisp mastering by Achilleas Kalantzis at Suncord Audiolab, and the stylish logo and layout by Nikos Tsiolis.

D.K. generates a dense and grim atmosphere from the very first second in Mountain Tops while Astraea showcases all her versality going from Stygian clean vocals to demonic gnarls, resulting in an excellent display of modern-day Melodic Black Metal, followed by Frozen Lake, more imposing and detailed than the opening tune where D.K. does a great job with his classic Black Metal riffs and beats, providing Astraea with all she needs to darkly shine on vocals. Let’s keep banging our heads and raising our horns to the visceral Black Metal by Melan Selas in Humble Soil, where the piercing riffs by D.K. and the obscure growling by Astraea will darken your soul for all eternity, whereas a lot more vicious and infernal, the duo will hammer our heads with all of their strength in Trumpets of War, offering our ears a perfect hybrid of classic Black Metal with modern-day Atmospheric Black Metal and nuances of other styles such as Death and Thrash Metal.

In Dreadful Dome, D.K. builds a stunning background with his rumbling bass, pounding drums and hellish riffs while Astraea continues to vociferate like a true she-demon. Put differently, there’s not a single second of peace, it’s total fuckin’ darkness for our absolute delight; and get ready for almost seven minutes of darkness, melancholy and insanity in Darkened Cliff, starting with the Stygian clean vocals by Astraea and getting more and more anguished as the music progresses, while the sound crafted by D.K. lives up to the legacy of old school Black Metal. In the shortest of all tracks, titled Wanderer, Astraea will hypnotize you and drag you to her sinister lair forever, an obscure tune that will set the stage for the duo to kill one last time in Ancient Scrolls, bringing to our avid ears the slashing riffage by D.K. and the beautiful, evil gnarls by Astraea, closing the album on a high and devilish note.

“A quest through space and time, an ascension to something greater… Zephyrean Hymns lead our cause.” This is what the duo had to say about their new album, and if you want to show them your utmost support you can start following them on Facebook for all things Melan Selas, and purchase a copy of the awesome Zephyrean Hymns from The Circle Music’s webstore as a luxurious box embossed in silver (limited to 100 copies), a beautiful LP (limited to 500 copies), or an A5 digipak CD (also limited to 500 copies), or you can also click HERE to grab your favorite version of the album, plus several other retailers including Fantotal.de and Juno. A gentle breeze is flowing from the stunning Athens; however, you better be prepared because it’s not just any breeze, but a Black Metal one, courtesy of the multi-talented D.K. and Astraea, who together are proudly carrying the torch of Greek extreme music anywhere they go armed with their stylish and captivating new album and ,consequently, embracing our damned souls without a single drop of mercy.

Best moments of the album: Frozen Lake, Trumpets of War and Darkened Cliff.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 The Circle Music

Track listing
1. Mountain Tops 5:31
2. Frozen Lake 5:42
3. Humble Soil 5:45
4. Trumpets of War 5:04
5. Dreadful Dome 5:02
6. Darkened Cliff 6:46
7. Wanderer 2:44
8. Ancient Scrolls 6:50

Band members
Astraea – vocals
D.K. – all instruments

Album Review – Burial Hordes / Ruins (2023)

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An uncanny force hailing from Greece attacks again with their fifth full-length opus, a beautifully balanced yet fearsome album of Blackened Death Metal.

Emerging from the scorching pits of Athens, Greece after a five-year hiatus, Black/Death Metal outfit Burial Hordes brings forth an outstanding slab of Blackened Death Metal that harnesses both chaos and atmosphere in equal parts, which is exactly what they have to offer us all in their brand new opus Ruins. The follow-up to their 2018 album Θανατος αιωνιος (The Termination Thesis), and featuring a classy artwork by Khaos Diktator Design, the excellent Ruins is a beautifully balanced yet fearsome album right off the bat, wit the band formed of D.T. (Ravencult) on vocals, and T.K. (Dead Congregation) and D.D. (Enshadowed, Anticreation) on the guitars and bass, supported by session drummer Eugene Ryabchenko (Fleshgod Apocalypse), slipping into different dimensions only to come back with renewed anger, being therefore highly recommended for fans of Incantation, Dead Congregation, Deathspell Omega, and Enshadowed, just to name a few.

The opening track In the Midst of a Vast Solitude is simply infernal and devastating from the very first second, with Eugene sounding bestial on drums and, therefore, offering D.T., T.K. and D.D. everything they need to generate a beyond Stygian and captivating ambience of Black and Death Metal. T.K. and D.D. keep darkening the skies with their scorching riffs in Insubstantial, a headbanging creation by the band where D.T. continues to roar like a demonic entity, followed by Perish, bringing forward another five minutes of absolute darkness and insanity by Burial Hordes where Eugene once again dictates the song’s pace with his sick blast beats, feeling solid and sulfurous while presenting Doom Metal elements in its second half. And investing in a hammering, heavy-as-hell sound it’s time for the Blackened Doom-infused aria Wandering Stream of Wind, with the guitars by T.K. and D.D. piercing our souls mercilessly.

Then tribal beats ignite the flawless, pulverizing Black and Death Metal extravaganza Infinite Sea of Nothingness, a demonic composition showcasing the always visceral growls by D.T., or in other words, succumb to the dark side of music to the sound of this precious gem of the underground extreme scene. There’s no sign of slowing down; quite the contrary, their Black Metal madness goes on in Isotropic Eradication, where Eugene crushes his drums supported by the devilish riffage by his bandmates, followed by Purgation, offering our putrid ears more of the band’s hellish sounds. Moreover, it will penetrate deep inside your psyche and demolish your hopes and dreams, with D.T.’s deep guttural sounding inhumane and absolutely evil. Lastly, the ending of the album could have been a little heavier and darker than what’s offered in …to the Threshold of Silence, but the song is still amazing and brings forward more of their evil roars, harsh riffs and pounding drums.

This ruthless Greek horde is waiting for you on Facebook to join them in their battle for extreme music, and if you want to show them your utmost support you can stream Ruins in its entirety on Spotify and purchase a copy of it from their own BandCamp page or from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ webstore, as well as from Apple Music or Amazon. Easily one of the best albums of late in the Blackened Death Metal spectrum, Ruins represents an evolution in the sound of Burial Hordes, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for such powerful and important name of the always prolific Greek underground scene.

Best moments of the album: In the Midst of a Vast Solitude, Infinite Sea of Nothingness and Purgation.

Worst moments of the album: …to the Threshold of Silence.

Released in 2023 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. In the Midst of a Vast Solitude 4:57
2. Insubstantial 4:46
3. Perish 5:06
4. Wandering Stream of Wind 5:54
5. Infinite Sea of Nothingness 5:24
6. Isotropic Eradication 4:51
7. Purgation 4:23
8. …to the Threshold of Silence 5:44

Band members
D.T. – vocals
T.K. – guitars, bass
D.D. – guitars, bass

Guest musician
Eugene Ryabchenko – drums (session)

Album Review – Vonavibe / Bleed To Life (2023)

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Enjoy this first-class album of Heavy Rock full of addictive hooks, intricate dynamics, clever drum pattering and diverse vocals all carefully brought into being by three skillful Greek rockers.

A Heavy Modern Rock band formed in 2016 in Athens, Greece, Vonavibe are more than ready to rock with their debut full-length album titled Bleed To Life, containing gargantuan proportions of heavy (and ultimately satisfying) chock ‘n’ gravel rock sounds that bring to mind all our favorite bars, beaches, arenas and rock festivals. Produced, recorded, and mixed by the band’s own vocalist and guitarist Dyon at Red Toy Studio, and mastered by John Christodoulatos at Sweetspot Productions, the album showcases all the talent and passion for Heavy Rock by the aforementioned Dyon together with John Tass on the lead guitars and George Andrian on drums, offering our avid ears addictive hooks, intricate dynamics, clever drum pattering and diverse vocals, all carefully brought into being by such talented Greek trio.

Somber Stoner Rock and Metal guitar lines ignite the band’s rockin’ feast in Left For Dead, with Dyon kicking some ass with his Hard Rock inspired vocals while John delivers striking solos for our total delight, followed by Run n’ Hide, the perfect tune for hitting the highway on a Harley Davidson feeling the wind on your face, with the amazing beats by George being nicely complemented by the song’s metallic bass lines. Then we have Vonavibe, the song that carries the name of the band, offering more of their classic Hard Rock sounds led by the slashing riffage by Dyon and John; and the trio slows things down and offer our ears the delicate ballad Hold On, showcasing Dyon’s smoother side on vocals while the instrumental parts exhale melancholy. After such melodious moment, it’s time for their rendition for The Rolling Stones’ classic Paint It Black (check the original version HERE), presenting a superb job done by the trio by keeping the song’s essence intact while adding their own Greek Hard Rock twist to it, with George crushing his drums in great fashion.

All That Remains is another classic Rock N’ Roll tune with an edgier vibe thanks to the raspy vocals by Dyon, always supported by the solid riffs and beats by his bandmates, whereas the trio then delivers one more dark song titled Beyond Tolerance, starting in a very somber manner to the introspective vocals by Dyon while John adds tons of feeling and groove to the music when things get heavier. In Break Your Sky they bring forward more of their fusion of classic Rock N’ Roll with Sludge Rock and Metal nuances, keeping the album at a high level of heaviness and electricity, and let’s keep banging our heads to the piercing riffage by Dyon and John in Song 9, while George hammers his drums in the name of Rock N’ Roll. Finally, closing the album we have Alive, offering more of their Hard Rock riffs and beats while Dyon keeps declaiming the song’s lyrics with tons of passion and John fires a soulful solo, resulting in eight minutes of first-class rock music for the masses.

In summary, Vonavibe play high-quality Rock N’ Roll, and you can enjoy their music to the fullest by streaming Bleed To Life on YouTube and on Spotify, and by purchasing a copy of the album by clicking HERE. In addition, don’t forget to show your love for those Greek rockers by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and by subscribing to their YouTube channel. Whenever Dyon, John and George take your city by storm with their Heavy Rock, don’t think twice and go check such amazing band live, raising your horns for all the amazing songs from Bleed To Life and, therefore, keeping the flames of Rock N’ Roll burning bright anywhere they go.

Best moments of the album: Run n’ Hide, Paint It Black and Break Your Sky.

Worst moments of the album: Hold On.

Released in 2023 Eclipse Records

Track listing
1. Left For Dead 4:49
2. Run n’ Hide 3:22
3. Vonavibe 4:14
4. Hold On 3:45
5. Paint It Black (The Rolling Stones cover) 4:24
6. All That Remains 5:08
7. Beyond Tolerance 5:42
8. Break Your Sky 3:38
9. Song 9 4:48
10. Alive 8:13

Band members
Dyon – vocals, rhythm guitars
John Tass – lead guitars
George Andrian – drums