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Acid Death - Apathy Murders Hope
Acid Death were one of Greeceīs best Death Metal acts in the 90īs. This EP was released in 1992 through Greek Molon Lave Records. The style is technical Thrash/Death Metal. There are two songs and one intro called Psychosis. The first song is Apathy Murders Hope, a very good song that combines late Thrash and early Death Metal. Cool stuff! Second song is Balance Of Power. The songs remind sometimes early Scandinavian Death Metal, sometimes US bands! A great release for the fans of this kind of music!
Written by Skariotis
Agatus - Rite Of Metamorphosis
This EP was self released by the band in 1997. They had already moved to Australia at that time. It is the only release between Agatusī first album Dawn Of Martyrdom in 1994 and their second and latest album The Weaving Fates in 2002. There are two songs on the EP.
The first track is Sorcerers Until The End Of Time. It differs from the songs that are on the previous album, the direction is more into traditional Heavy Metal with strong Black Metal parts (a direction, that Agatus will develop perfectly on the second album!). The EP is a step between the full length albums. The second song is the title track, Rite Of Metamorphosis, it tends to the same direction. Fast melodic guitars in combination with keyboards and Black Metal vocals.
Both songs are great, the only weak thing are the high pitched vocals, they are a little bit powerless (either Dawn.. nor Weaving... have such high vocals). Nevertheless, this EP is necessary for every (Hellenic) Heavy/Black Metal fan!
The first track is Sorcerers Until The End Of Time. It differs from the songs that are on the previous album, the direction is more into traditional Heavy Metal with strong Black Metal parts (a direction, that Agatus will develop perfectly on the second album!). The EP is a step between the full length albums. The second song is the title track, Rite Of Metamorphosis, it tends to the same direction. Fast melodic guitars in combination with keyboards and Black Metal vocals.
Both songs are great, the only weak thing are the high pitched vocals, they are a little bit powerless (either Dawn.. nor Weaving... have such high vocals). Nevertheless, this EP is necessary for every (Hellenic) Heavy/Black Metal fan!
Written by Skariotis
Black Winter/Nethescerial Split EP
This 7" Split EP features the two most uprising Black Metal bands of the Hellenic underground. Every band contributes one song. Nethescerialīs song is called Onwards the Dismal Kingdoms. The band plays fast, symphonic Black Metal, not far away from bands like Dimmu Borgir. Infernal Black Metal-parts are often interrupted by majestic keyboard melodies. The band knows to slow sometimes a bit down, making the song more accessible. The sound is almost perfect, except the drums, which sound weak. The keyboard is predominant on this song, something that many people like a lot and others not.
Black Winterīs song is called In Cosmic Installation and features a guest appearance of Astarteīs vocalist Tristessa. I was curious how Black Winter has evolved as a band, their last recording was done in 2003 and was released as split CD with the Polish band Moontower. That release was by far the best output of Black Winter, who chose to follow a more melodic path, instead of the true and primitive Black Metal they played in the beginning. The band again did not choose to stand still. In Cosmic Installation is not so melodic and not "true" Black Metal. The band sounds now like if Rotting Christ (on Sanctus Diavolos) would write a song with Dimmu Borgir (not a perfect example, but at least, people who do not know Black Winter will have now an idea of their sound). The songwriting is the most progressive the band ever had. The blastbeat parts are only few, but in exchange, the slower parts are heavy as hell, thanks to a perfect guitar and bass sound. Singer Astrous delivers his best performance, he surely is one of Greeceīs best Black Metal vocalists. I also like, that the usage of keyboards is very rarely and always in the background. I think it is really time now for a full album of Black Winter, the band proved that they have a lot potential!
By purchasing this EP you surely will not be disappointed, īcause both bands deliver a great song!
By purchasing this EP you surely will not be disappointed, īcause both bands deliver a great song!
Written by Skariotis
Darkest Oath - Paradise Of The Infernal Torment
Not much is known about that one-man-band of Jim Necrochrist, only one release by Molon Lave Records in 1994. The two songs on the Paradise Of The Infernal Torment EP show us a band that follows the Black/Death Metal path in the vein of the Hellenic cutting-edge band Varathron. Both, Ceremonial Whisper Of The Ancient Goat as well as Visions Through My Infernal Dreams are good examples of the typical Hellenic Black/Death Metal sound! Sound engineer George Zacharopoulos (Magus Wampyr Daoloth) made them a sound that is almost identical to the Varathron debut album His Majesty At The Swamp. The vocals of Jim are also similar to the vocals of Necroabyssius. The best Varathron EP, that Varathron never made. Fans of the mentioned genre should watch out for this rare EP!
Written by Skariotis
Disharmony - The Gate Of Deeper Sleep
Disharmony released 1993 after some demos their one and only vinyl output, The Gate Of Deeper Sleep EP, through Molon Lave Records. It contains four tracks, two songs and intro and outro. The EP starts with the surrealistic intro ...Windīs Creation, and continues with the title track. You can hear immediately that these guys are Greeks, due to the slow riffing, the haunting keyboard and the spoken word parts. Although they do not remind much Varathron or Rotting Christ, they have this certain atmosphere which is typical for Greek bands of that period. Second song is Blasphemy Of The Secret. The tempo is very slow, reminding Doom/Death Metal, only seldom interrupted by mid-tempo parts. There are absolutely no fast or blastbeat parts on the EP, which closes with the outro And The Last Benediction... Sadly, there is no more sign of life from the band after this EP. I think, Disharmony could have done at least one good album of typical Hellenic Death/Black Metal. They proved with The Gate Of Deeper Sleep EP, that they could!
Written by Skariotis
Fiendish Nymph - The Sibyl Of Elikona
After a prior demo release, Fiendish Nymph released in 1998 this EP through German label Solistitium Records. There are two songs on it, The Drowning Of Syring and The Sibyl Of Elikona. Both songs are, except the vocals, typical Hellenic Black Metal. Slow riffing, atmospheric keyboards and instead of high-pitched shrieks or growls there are only whispered voices, female vocals and very sick sounding caws. Both songs have titles and lyrics in modern Greek but there are also English translations in the booklet. The lyrics are about ancient Hellenic myths. The members of the group, Pan and Triton are also members of the Greek pagan-folk band Daimonia Nymphe. The Sibyl Of Elikona EP is a great piece of pagan art!
Written by Skariotis
Flames - Live In The Slaughterhouse
After two albums, Flames released 1987 this live EP, which contains four live tracks. The first song, Iīm Dressed In Black Suede, is from their debut Made In Hell, the other three, CocksuckinīSlave, Murder and Beloved Dead are from the second album Merciless Slaughter. All four songs are good examples of Flamesī early sound, a mix between US and German Thrash Metal. This release is also the last one with the vocalist Nigel Foxxe, which had a more brutal voice on his Flames releases, as on his solo album War Of The Godz. The live sound is good, especially the guitar sound is mixed well. Thrash Metal maniacs should invest fearless, īcause the EP is good headbanging stuff! Sad that nobody knew the band outside of Greece at that time! Flames had the potential for much more!
Written by Skariotis
Flegethon - Doomed In Eternal Suffering
Flegethon was a Death Metal band with some Grindcore elements. Their first and only EP was released in 1993 through Greek Molon Lave Records (MLR 052). The four songs on it are each about two minutes long. Musically they are raw Death Metal songs, interrupted by many blastbeat parts and with vocals from the deepest pits of hell! With such limited duration, the band could have easily put another four barbaric songs on the EP. So, the total length is too short, not even nine minutes long, but the music is not bad. One year after the EP, Flegethon split up and two of the members, Pinhead and Rotten Flesh, continued as Ereshkigal. It should be mentioned that the guitar on the Doomed In Eternal Suffering EP was played by Nick Flesh of Sadistic Noise (RIP).
Written by Skariotis
Funeral Revolt - Burial
Funreal Revolt was formed back in 1989 and they released two demos in the early 90īs. Their first EP Burial was released in 1993 from Greek Black Power Records. Their music on this EP is straight Death Metal, typical for this period. The EP starts with the title track, which is only a dark intro. The music kicks off with Fly Beyond, which starts with a slow Death Metal riff and then becomes faster, but it turns many times from fast to slow, having lots of different riffs. Next track is Lamentation. It is a calm song, played by acoustic guitars, without vocals. Itīs a good song, but Fly Beyond was not so brutal that we need immediately a downer. Fourth track is Concealment Of Truth, which shows us again the Death Metal face of the band. This continues with Solitude, the last song. The band delivers nothing new on this EP, but plays pure, traditional Death Metal, influenced by the US-scene. The growls of the vocalist are solid, as well as the skills of the other musicians. The songs are varying a lot between slow riffs and fast parts, so the music doesnīt get boring. For every lover of early Death Metal, this EP will be a good addition. This is not a band which makes retro-sound, this is really old-school stuff! After this EP the band split up, but returned in 2005 with their first album called The Perfect Sin, which is not only Death Metal anymore, but has many modern influences. After so many years of silence, it surprises me that there are still the same five members in the band!
Written by Skariotis
Horrified - Eternal God
Eternal God was Horrifiedīs first EP. Black Power Records released it in the year 1992. It contains the intro Beyond The Chaos and two songs, Eternal God and Altars Of Abyss. Beyond The Chaos is a dark, haunting intro. Eternal God and Altars Of Abyss are two good songs and represent Horrifiedīs sound of that time: slow, heayy riffs, atmospheric keyboards and deep growls. In contrary to their later releases, there are some faster Death Metal parts on that songs and the female vocals are missing. Itīs astonishing, how early Horrified played their own style of slow, atmospheric Death Metal with keyboards. There were not many similar Death Metal bands at that time which used keyboards, all wanted to be the fastest and the most brutal. But bands like Septic Flesh and Horrified proved, that there are also other ways to play astonishingly good Death Metal!
Written by Skariotis
Horrified - The Ancient Whisper Of Wisdom
Horrified is one of the oldest Death Metal bands in Greece. This EP was their second one and it was released in 1992 through Greek Psychosis Records. There are two songs on it. Horrifiedīs music can be described as slow Death Metal with keyboards and femal vocal parts. The sound is not very far away from the early Septic Flesh sound, but the material is easily distinguishable from Septic Flesh.
The first track is Seperial Dominon. Even if itīs Death Metal, one can hear immediately the origin of the band, due to the use of keyboards in combination with the slow metal music. The second track, Astral Submersion, could easily be "part 2" of the first song, it is almost the same. And that is the weakest point of this release, Horrified put two similar sounding songs on this EP. So the eleven minutes can sometimes be veeeery long. This EP is included on the CD version of their debut album, In The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, as a bonus.
The first track is Seperial Dominon. Even if itīs Death Metal, one can hear immediately the origin of the band, due to the use of keyboards in combination with the slow metal music. The second track, Astral Submersion, could easily be "part 2" of the first song, it is almost the same. And that is the weakest point of this release, Horrified put two similar sounding songs on this EP. So the eleven minutes can sometimes be veeeery long. This EP is included on the CD version of their debut album, In The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, as a bonus.
Written by Skariotis
Kawir - Eumenides
This is Kawirīs second release. It contains two songs and was released in 1995 from Dark Side Records. The line-up on this EP is very interesting, because together with the founding member Mentor (now Thertonax) on bass, also gathered Necroabysious on vocals (main man of Varathron) and Eskarth on the guitar (main man of Agatus, guitar player of Zemial). Kawirīs style is pagan Black Metal, their lyrics are strongly influenced by the ancient Hellenic heritage.
First track is The Adored Cry Of Olympus, a slow song with atmospheric keyboards, the typical growls of Necroabysious and with a wonderful guitar solo at the end. Second song is Eumenides, which is much faster. The vocals are more Black Metal then on the previous song, with some high screams. Despite the cooperation with two other musicians, the music is clearly Kawir, and Mentor will walk this path in the future with other band members, but maintaining and improving his own style.
A good start for Greeceīs best pagan Black Metal band!
Written by Skariotis
Kawir/Sigh Split EP
On this Split EP there is one song of Kawir and two songs from Japanese Black Metallers Sigh. It was released in 1994 by the British label Cacophonous Records.
The songs of Sigh are Suicidogenic, which is a raw, Bathory-like song and the Venom cover Schizo, which is a good rocker. Good perfomance of this cult band!
Kawir contributed one song, but it is more than six minutes long. It is called SINN (The Blazing Queen). It was Kawirīs first release. The line-up is todayīs something like an all-star-band, īcause on the vocals was Necroabysious from mighty Varathron and on guitar was Eskarth, from Agatus. Of course there must be mentioned the groupīs founder and till today the leader, Mentor (today his nickname is Therthonax). The song Sinn begins with some ancient sounding guitars, before the voice of Necrobysious destroys the nice and calm atmosphere abruptly. His vocal style is another one of that he uses in Varathron. Now it is more brutal. The ancient sounding guitar parts are on the whole song, creating the feeling, that Kawir want to create: a tribute to ancient Hellas! The pagan element of Kawir was there, right from the start. The whole song is typical Greek Black Metal. The guitar riff reminds me the Rite Of Metamorphosis EP from Agatus, where, of course, Eskarth played the guitar too! SINN is an epic composition with the typical keyboard atmosphere, which made this Hellenic Black Metal genre so unique.
Great EP!
The songs of Sigh are Suicidogenic, which is a raw, Bathory-like song and the Venom cover Schizo, which is a good rocker. Good perfomance of this cult band!
Kawir contributed one song, but it is more than six minutes long. It is called SINN (The Blazing Queen). It was Kawirīs first release. The line-up is todayīs something like an all-star-band, īcause on the vocals was Necroabysious from mighty Varathron and on guitar was Eskarth, from Agatus. Of course there must be mentioned the groupīs founder and till today the leader, Mentor (today his nickname is Therthonax). The song Sinn begins with some ancient sounding guitars, before the voice of Necrobysious destroys the nice and calm atmosphere abruptly. His vocal style is another one of that he uses in Varathron. Now it is more brutal. The ancient sounding guitar parts are on the whole song, creating the feeling, that Kawir want to create: a tribute to ancient Hellas! The pagan element of Kawir was there, right from the start. The whole song is typical Greek Black Metal. The guitar riff reminds me the Rite Of Metamorphosis EP from Agatus, where, of course, Eskarth played the guitar too! SINN is an epic composition with the typical keyboard atmosphere, which made this Hellenic Black Metal genre so unique.
Great EP!
Written by Skariotis
Kawir/Nocternity Split EP
This EP was released in the year 2003 by Sombre Records. It features one song from each band. Kawirīs song is called Keres. It reminds more their Epoptia album than their new album Arai, maybe because the old vocalist Diavelgenus is still singing. The production is average, the drums are hardly hearable.
Nocternityīs song is called A Fallen Unicorn. Thatīs an older version than the version of the homonymous release. Sounds interesting, like a rawer rehearsal recording, before they got their cold, majestic sound as played on Onyx.
Both songs were re-released by both bands. Keres is on the Solistitium Records re-release of the Epoptia album and A Fallen Unicorn is on the CD version of A Fallen Unicorn. Both songs are OK, but not terrific.
Written by Skariotis
Macabre Omen/Godblood - Split EP
The two bands joined their powers in 1997 and released this split EP through Daimonion Productions (DMN 001),which is the label of the Macabre Omen frontman. It was for both bands the first vinyl release. Each band contributes one song, the song of Macabre Omen is called The Waltz Of The Nereids, Of The Dryads, Of The Nymphs. In contrary to their actual album The Ancient Returns, this song is more influenced by Varathron than by Bathory, but first of all it sounds like Macabre Omen. It starts calmly with a piano part and continues with slow guitars and the shrieks of Alexandros (The One). But in the middle, the song is interrupted by a great, typical Greek Black Metal killer-riff! Atmospheric keyboards are also involved. The lyrics are dealing with the ancient past and are sung in the first third of the song, so the remaining time is only instrumental (this is something like Macabre Omenīs trademark).
Godblood from Cyprus contributes the song A Funeral, which will later be included as newer version on their debut album Those Funeral Times. The song features the typical Godbloodish mix of NWOBHM-riffing and Black Metal vocals. Lyrically the band seems to worship death. Nice contrast to Macabre Omen, with a very strong feeling of traditional metal.
Written by Skariotis
Macabre Omen/Walhalla - Split EP
The split EP was released in the year 1999 from German label Vanitas Productions. The Greeks Macabre Omen contributed one song, the Finns Walhalla contributed two songs. The songs of Walhalla are Battlefield Genesis and Black Cross Burning, two good tracks of simple, catchy Death/Black Metal, right in your face.
Macabre Omenīs song is called The Past, Is The Future, Of The Present. It is fast, grim, traditional Black Metal with a syntheziser which sounds like an organ. It has also some slow atmospheric parts, with majestic keyboards. Good track, with a very bad production, the guitar sound simply sucks. At that time, Macabre Omen had two members, Alexandros (guitar, vocals) and Nikos (bass). Today it is just Alexandros, who moved from his native Greek island Rhodes to London. Nice EP, limited to 500 copies.
Written by Skariotis
Macabre Omen/Ad Inferos Split EP
This was my first encounter with Macabre Omen and I didnīt quite knew what to expect. The Macabre Omen track (We Won With War) had many different turns in one short song. First it starts out as blasting, lo/fi standard Black Metal song with blackish shrieks, but then we get to the chorus and more distinguishable riffs appear, along with a sort of humming clean vocals. This alternates with the blasting parts a couple of times, before the song ends with about a minute of a non-metal, perhaps a bit folky end, with several clean vocals. Good and diverse song!
Written by Morten
Medieval Demon/Invocation Split EP
This EP was released in 1994 from Greek label Dark Side Records. There is one song and one outro from Medieval Demon and one song from Invocation. This was for both bands the first release.
Medieval Demonīs side starts with Night Of The Infernal Lord, a very traditional Black Metal song, with a vocalist, who seems to scream his soul out of his body... All in all, not a bad song, but average, cause there is not really any amazing part. After that song there is an outro called Epilogue: The Opera Of The Black Ceremony, which is a keyboard track with some mystic sounding elements.
The Invocation side is one song called The Shadow Over Innsmouth and itīs far better than the Medieval Demon material. A possible description for the song could be Iced Earth-like guitars meet Death Metal-voice meet atmospheric keyboards. The tempo is varying, so the song doesnīt get boring. In the middle there is a calm acoustic guitar part, before the song reaches blast-beat tempo. In contrast to that, there is the keyboard. Great interplay!
Medieval Demonīs side starts with Night Of The Infernal Lord, a very traditional Black Metal song, with a vocalist, who seems to scream his soul out of his body... All in all, not a bad song, but average, cause there is not really any amazing part. After that song there is an outro called Epilogue: The Opera Of The Black Ceremony, which is a keyboard track with some mystic sounding elements.
The Invocation side is one song called The Shadow Over Innsmouth and itīs far better than the Medieval Demon material. A possible description for the song could be Iced Earth-like guitars meet Death Metal-voice meet atmospheric keyboards. The tempo is varying, so the song doesnīt get boring. In the middle there is a calm acoustic guitar part, before the song reaches blast-beat tempo. In contrast to that, there is the keyboard. Great interplay!
Written by Skariotis
Mortal Pain - Where Somewhere Is Nowhere
Mortal Pain was a Death Metal band in the early 90īs. After one demo from 1991, they released their debut EP in 1992 through Molon Lave Records. On this EP (which often is simply called the Mortal Pain EP, īcause the correct title is on the vinyl and not on the cover) the band delivers us two great mid-tempo Death Metal songs. After a short intro, the first one called Isolated starts to kick ass with a cool thrashing riff, which is played slower than typical Thrash Metal, therefore it is even more powerful. Nice song, which is varying with different riffs, tempos and melodies. Same for the second track, Under The Curse. Mortal Pain reminds me somehow of a faster version of Greek Death Metal masters Horrified. Production is good and the only negative aspect are the vocals, which are not bad at all, but they could have been deeper and more brutal, to emphasize stronger the Death Metal music. Strangely, this is the last release of Mortal Pain. I donīt know why there was no continuation of the band. Nevertheless, these are two good songs, so the EP is recommendend to every Death/Thrash Metal fan!
Written by Skariotis
Naer Mataron - A Holocaust In Front Of Godīs Eyes
This EP was released in the year 2002 from Scottish Aphelion Productions. It features two songs, the title track and Steppe. Both songs are typical Naer Mataron songs, fast, aggressive and traditional. The band still takes no prisoners or try to progress. The production is raw and cold and emphasizes the uncompromising attitude of total hatred. This is also the last Naer Mataron release with Lethe (aka Akis K.) on drums. He was always something like a session member in Naer Mataron and now he is focussing on his main band, Order Of The Ebon Hand. The song Steppe appears also on their third album River At Dash Scalding. The EP is limited to 500 copies.
Written by Skariotis
Naer Mataron/Voice Of Hate Split EP
This split EP was released in 2006 by the Spanish label Temple Of Darkness Records (TOD 003). Each band presents one song.
Voice Of Hate is a Death Metal band from Spain. Their song is called Venus In Furs (it is a cover from the band Velvet Underground). Itīs a slow track, with calm guitars but with an impelling rhythm. Itīs over five minutes long and becomes fast at the end. For someone this may be too long for such a slow song, without any speed change, but the song stands in good opposite to Naer Mataronīs song Chaos Disruption. The greek band delivers us their familiar sound of fast Black Metal, produced with a harsh and icy sound. This recording marks the end of the collaboration between the band and its founder, guitar player and vocalist Morpheas. This is his last release with the band. But the band did not split and will continue with new members. We will see what an effect the split will have, īcause Morpheas was also an important songwriter. So this is the last chance, to hear him play a Naer Mataron song.
Written by Skariotis
Necromantia - From The Past We Summon Thee
The songs of this EP were originally on a demo tape, which was released from the band as promo tape in 1990. The vinyl version was released from Greek label Dark Side Records in 1994. It contains three songs, Faceless Gods, Lykanthropia and La Mort. The production is very raw, but still listenable. The music is raging Black Metal, very extreme stuff. Faceless Gods is a song, that Immortal could have not made better and more extreme in 1993 (but this one is from 1989!). Lycanthropia is more an outro to Faceless Gods, with a cool, slow Hellenic Black Metal riff. La Mort is a typical weird Necromantia song, acoustic bass with some strange effects, invocations and satanic laughters...
An absolutey cult and evil release!
An absolutey cult and evil release!
Written by Skariotis
Necromantia/Varathron Split LP
This split LP is one the most cult recordings ever released from the Hellenic scene. It hit the lights in the year 1992, through Greek label Black Power Records. The side of Necromantia is called The Black Arts, the side of Varathron is titled The Everlasting Sins. The LP is an early evidence, how unique these two bands were and still are!
Necromantia start with Lord Of The Abyss, a slow and grim song, that will be included later on their debut album, Crossing The Fiery Path. Second song is The Feast Of Ghouls, which is more diverse than the previous one. Ultra-slow parts combined with hyper-fast parts in the typical Necromantia style. Third song is Evil Prayers, the most weird song on this LP. It is a calm acoustic song, based on a bass guitar and drums, with a saxophone solo in the middle of the song! At the end it raises its speed and creates a cool atmosphere! Last song is Lycanthropia, which was also on their promo tape ī90. The whole song is just one fine guitar melody and short in duration. I wonder why they didnīt make a whole normal song, īcause the melody is really great! But, what is "normal", when we talk about Necromantiaīs music?
Varathronīs side begins with the majestic keyboard intro The Cult Of The Dragon, and the raspy whispered voice of vocalist Necroabyssious. Then the first song, The Tressrising Of Nyarlathotep, explodes with its slow but effective guitar riffs. Then comes La Reine Noir, which is also a slow, but intense song. Both songs were released already in the Genesis Of Apocryphal Desire demo, so I donīt really understand, why they released it again. Maybe because the demo was immediately sold out. Check my review of the demo for these two songs.The only new stuff is the intro and the outro, called Outro. At least Varathron spread the publicity of the bandīs name with this release.
Necromantia start with Lord Of The Abyss, a slow and grim song, that will be included later on their debut album, Crossing The Fiery Path. Second song is The Feast Of Ghouls, which is more diverse than the previous one. Ultra-slow parts combined with hyper-fast parts in the typical Necromantia style. Third song is Evil Prayers, the most weird song on this LP. It is a calm acoustic song, based on a bass guitar and drums, with a saxophone solo in the middle of the song! At the end it raises its speed and creates a cool atmosphere! Last song is Lycanthropia, which was also on their promo tape ī90. The whole song is just one fine guitar melody and short in duration. I wonder why they didnīt make a whole normal song, īcause the melody is really great! But, what is "normal", when we talk about Necromantiaīs music?
Varathronīs side begins with the majestic keyboard intro The Cult Of The Dragon, and the raspy whispered voice of vocalist Necroabyssious. Then the first song, The Tressrising Of Nyarlathotep, explodes with its slow but effective guitar riffs. Then comes La Reine Noir, which is also a slow, but intense song. Both songs were released already in the Genesis Of Apocryphal Desire demo, so I donīt really understand, why they released it again. Maybe because the demo was immediately sold out. Check my review of the demo for these two songs.The only new stuff is the intro and the outro, called Outro. At least Varathron spread the publicity of the bandīs name with this release.
The split LP was re-released in CD format from the Greek Unisound label under the name Black Arts Lead To Everlasting Sins in 1994 with two different covers.
Written by Skariotis
Nergal - De Vermis Mysteriis
Nergalīs first vinyl release came out in 1993 through Unisound Records. There are two songs on that EP and one intro and outro. The two songs appeared also on a demo before. After the intro, which is borrowed from the Bram Stokerīs Dracula soundtrack, the first song In Glass Of Sin begins slowly with a bass-driven sound. Itīs not easy to describe their music, it differs a lot from their debut album The Wizard Of Nerath. The best comparison is maybe Necromantiaīs sound, īcause Nergal also do not used guitars in the recording. Nergalīs music is slower than Necromantiaīs music. Both songs are build from a bass basement and are enriched with Death Metal growls and keyboards. The speed remains constantly slow, giving space to the distorted bass, which pounds heavily in slow rhythm. Track two, In The Name Of Nergal is a good example for the eccentric, sometimes primitive, but quite unique style of the band. If you like the old Necromantia sound, you better check this out! If you like polished, modern Black Metal, donīt even think about it!
Written by Skariotis
Nergal/Funeral Urn Split EP
The split EP was released in the year 1994 by Ceremony Productions (C.P. 001), which seems to be tightened to Unisound Records. There is no additional information about it (studio, producer, thank list...) on the sleeve, because the whole space is full of Unisound advertisement (same thing is on the De Vermis Mysteriis EP). Again, a very "friendly" act of Unisound Records and very "respectful" towards the work of the bands...
The split EP was released one year after Nergalīs first EP De Vermis Mysteriis, but the two songs are not new material of the band. Itīs a re-release of the two songs from the first demo. So the music is even more primitive than the previous release (which was a re-release from another demo too...!). The two Nergal songs are Expect The Rise Of The Dead and Legions Of Satanas. Both are slow and atmospheric Black/Death Metal songs with the typical Greek additional keyboards, reminding somehow the early Varathron songs, but canīt reach their quality. You just listen again and again to them and nothing happens. Maybe itīs OK for a first demo, but it was not necessary to take these two songs to make an extra EP, I think this was done just for making quick money. If Unisound was really interested, they would have asked the band for two new songs, but a recording studio wants money...
Funeral Urnīs side has also two songs, A Tale From Far Beyond and Redeemed. The music differs from Nergal, Funeral Urn play a grim type of Black Metal, very similar to early Samael and Mayhem demos. Sound better than Nergalīs songs, īcause they have more catchy elements. If you wonder about the bad sound which remind bad demo quality, youīre not far away from truth. Of course Unisound didnīt let the band recording new material, but took these two songs from an older demo of the band, just like they did with Nergal! This whole split EP is a good lesson, how to make some money without investing it in the bandīs favour. You can purchase it for collector reasons, but the music will not give you the expected satisfaction.
Written by Skariotis
Nightfall - Oh Black Queen, Oh Youīre Mine
This EP is a promo EP, as the band writes on the back side. It has two songs and it was released from Molon Lave Records in 1993. Both songs are also in the second Nightfall album called Macabre Sunsets.
First song is As Your God Is Failing Once Again, a good mix of Nightfallīs early material, something between Death, Gothic and Black Metal. It starts slowly, depressing, with a wonderful guitar melody, then it becomes very fast. The screams of singer Efthimis are over the top, like the singer of Rotting Christ, he is easily recognizable (like the whole music of Nightfall...thatīs why they are one of the top three Greek metal bands!). Song two, Enormous/The Anthem Of Death, is also slow. For me not the best Nightfall song, it is too long, over seven minutes (the album version is over 9 minutes long) and full of good, but weird guitar solos, which are destroying the song structure and make it very hard to listen.
Not bad for a promo EP, because it gives a good overview of Nightfalls second album. But I would have chosen another song than Enormous.
First song is As Your God Is Failing Once Again, a good mix of Nightfallīs early material, something between Death, Gothic and Black Metal. It starts slowly, depressing, with a wonderful guitar melody, then it becomes very fast. The screams of singer Efthimis are over the top, like the singer of Rotting Christ, he is easily recognizable (like the whole music of Nightfall...thatīs why they are one of the top three Greek metal bands!). Song two, Enormous/The Anthem Of Death, is also slow. For me not the best Nightfall song, it is too long, over seven minutes (the album version is over 9 minutes long) and full of good, but weird guitar solos, which are destroying the song structure and make it very hard to listen.
Not bad for a promo EP, because it gives a good overview of Nightfalls second album. But I would have chosen another song than Enormous.
Written by Skariotis
Nocternity - Crucify Him
Nocternity are one of Greeceīs most uncompromising Black Metal bands. Their style stands totally in the Norwegian tradition, cold, fast, raw and very harsh, with a huge keyboard sound. Old Emperor is maybe the nearest example to describe Nocternityīs sound. This EP was released in the year 2001 from ISO 666 Records. Nocternity got already an album out at that time, En Oria (released in 2000).
The EP begins with the calm acoustic intro, Stella Tenebrarum. Then the battle starts with Crucify Him and continues with Lunar Innuendo, which has some calm, atmospheric moments in the middle. Last song is Perdo Corporem, which has an incredible old-school metal part, a nice break from the icy and grim stuff they usually play. So for me this song is the highlight of this EP, which was released in Mini CD format and as a cassette with four (!) bonus songs. These must be older recordings, īcause the sound is worse than the previous four songs. The bonus songs are: The Gates, Black Holy War, Worship The End and King Of A Forgotten Land. This song is the same song as Queen Of The Deep from the En Oria album.
The EP begins with the calm acoustic intro, Stella Tenebrarum. Then the battle starts with Crucify Him and continues with Lunar Innuendo, which has some calm, atmospheric moments in the middle. Last song is Perdo Corporem, which has an incredible old-school metal part, a nice break from the icy and grim stuff they usually play. So for me this song is the highlight of this EP, which was released in Mini CD format and as a cassette with four (!) bonus songs. These must be older recordings, īcause the sound is worse than the previous four songs. The bonus songs are: The Gates, Black Holy War, Worship The End and King Of A Forgotten Land. This song is the same song as Queen Of The Deep from the En Oria album.
Written by Skariotis
Nocternity/Nastrond Split EP
This Split EP has one song from Swedish Black Metallers Nastrond and one song and outro from Nocternity. It was released 2005 by Debemur Morti Productions. Nastrondīs track called Vargtid and is a hyperfast and grim chaotic piece, a bit like old Gorgoroth. Production is not good, but thatīs possibly their intention.
Nocternity begins with the track called The Times Of Mist. Thatīs a typical Nocternity song, but the vocals have changed. Merkaal is not anymore the vocalist and there is no description, who is screaming on that track. The booklet mentions a guy named Tharen, who wrote the lyrics. There also stands that the vocals were recorded separetely in Wien (Vienna, Austria). Maybe thatīs the new vocalist?? His voice is typical Black Metal screaming, it sounds OK, but cannot reach the mad, desperate howling of Merkaal. There is an outro, which is performed by Vinterriket (who appears also on the Onyx and A Fallen Unicorn CDīs). But there is no title on the EP for that track, it just says that "Track 2" is performed by him... The production of both tracks is inferior to the last album production.
There are two versions available, a normal EP with Poster and a picture EP with poster. The booklet looks very qualitative and the poster is a nice contribution. The music is only for underground Black Metal fanatics.
Written by Skariotis
Nocternity/Akitsa Split EP
The split EP with the canadian band Akitsa was released in the year 2004 from Forever Plagued Records. Nocternityīs side has two songs, Worship The End and Cold Wings Of Noctisis. The first is a typical high-quality Nocternity song in the vein of Onyx, but the production is not so powerful like the Onyx-album. The second track, Worship The End, is a calm acoustic and atmospheric outro without vocals. Both songs are re-released as bonus in the CD-version of the A Fallen Unicorn EP. Nocternity fanatics should invest without fear.
Written by Skariotis
Nocternity/Morrigan - A Celtic/Hellenic Alliance
This split EP was released in the year 2004 by Obscure Abhorrence Productions and Deviant Records.It features one song each band. The song of the German band Morrigan is called Dead Forever and takes us back to a journey into the fields of epic, Bathory-inspired Black Metal.
Nocternityīs song is called The Iron Age. Itīs a slow tune with a very harsh and icy sound. Both songs create a similar atmosphere and images of fighting warriors on ancient battlefields, both bands glorify the past. EP comes with lyrics, a poster of each band and it is limited 666 copies. To my knowledge it is already sold-out.
Written by Skariotis
Obsecration - Oblivious...
Obsecration is one of Hellas oldest Death Metal bands. This EP was released from Greek Molon Lave Records in 1993. It starts with the calm keyboard intro Oblivious..., then the first song Re-creative Incitement blasts suddenly your ears off. What has to be said about Greek Death Metal from this period, is, that the similarities to the Hellenic Black Metal are many, but nevertheless it is always Death Metal! Second song is Sadness Contemplates Oneīs Past Life. Like the first song, this is multifacetted Death Metal in the Hellenic tradition, with slow acoustic parts, keyboards, whispering vocals, but also fast and heavy as hell.
Itīs a shame, this band is so unknown...
Itīs a shame, this band is so unknown...
Written by Skariotis
Obsecration - Vault Of The Obscure Vortex
Two years after the Sins Of the Flesh album, Obsecration moved from the Greek label Sleaszy Rider Records to the Greek label Supreme Music Creations and released in 2004 this EP. Thereīs an intro and two songs on it. The first track is Parasite, a song thatīs pretty much in the vein of the Sins Of The Flesh album. Fast, energetic, but also melodic with higher, raspy screams. Nice song, it would have enriched their last album a lot! Second song is Horror In A Gothic Genreīs Grave. Aficionados may have noticed: this song is also on their debut album The Inheritors Of Pain, which was released in the year 1996. So the two songs differ a bit, so what! The new recorded version is true to the old version and has now a powerful sound! And the song was at that time already a great song and sounds now even better. They could re-record some more classics in my opinion. This EP is limited to 400 copies.
Written by Skariotis
Phlebotomy (pre-On Thorns I Lay) - Dawn Of Grief
Phlebotomy is today well known under the name On Thorns I Lay. Now they play gothic styled metal, like Paradise Lost or Sentenced, but in 1992, when this EP was released from Molon Lave Records, they played atmospheric Death Metal with growls and female vocals, in the vein of Septic Flesh. This EP contains two similar songs, Born To Suffer and As The Sky Turns Black. Not really special stuff. I like their later CDs more, the songs of these EP are too unspectacular. I donīt know why, they are not boring, they got varying speed changes, melodies, different vocals, good musicianship... but the songwriting is lacking of something spectacular. Maybe Iīm not a big fan of this genre...but as they changed later to On Thorns I Lay, they got really better!
Written by Skariotis
Ravencult - Armageddon Rising
Ravencult is one of the new hopes of the Hellenic Black Metal scene. After two demos they released their first EP through the Greek Aenaon Music label in 2004. The EP contains two previously unreleased songs, Dethrone The Son Of God an The Nightsky Codex. These songs are in a very traditional Scandinavian vein, in contrary to their two demos, which were more Hellenic Black Metal. Dethrone is a classic, fast song and Nightsky is slow and grim, good headbanging stuff. What I like most, is that Ravencult has its own style and very strong and catchy compositions, remarkable from the beginning till the end. I particularly like the guitar sound very much! Canīt wait to listen to their debut album, which will hopefully be released this year!
Written by Skariotis
Rotting Christ/Sound Pollution - The Other Side Of Life Split EP
This EP was Rotting Christīs first official release. It was released through the German label TNT Records in 1989. If you are a Black Metal fanatic, keep your hands off from this release, because Rotting Christ and Sound Pollution do NOT play Black Metal! Rotting Christ began as a Grindcore band, and so they sound on this EP.
The side of Rotting Christ has nine (!) songs, with beautiful titles like Asthmatic Apoplexy, Thyrotoxicosis, Myxomycetes Attack and Animal Revenge. How can you get 9 songs on one 7" EP? Well, the songs are only between 30 seconds and one minute long. Typical Grindcore, brutal and chaotic! The line-up is the classic threepiece line-up, Sakis, Themis and Jim (the pseudonyms came later, as they changed direction to Black Metal). Sound Pollutionīs music is also weird Grindcore. But they have ten songs on their side, so imagine yourself...
Cool is also the statement of Rotting Christ: All fascist actions fuck off!
The side of Rotting Christ has nine (!) songs, with beautiful titles like Asthmatic Apoplexy, Thyrotoxicosis, Myxomycetes Attack and Animal Revenge. How can you get 9 songs on one 7" EP? Well, the songs are only between 30 seconds and one minute long. Typical Grindcore, brutal and chaotic! The line-up is the classic threepiece line-up, Sakis, Themis and Jim (the pseudonyms came later, as they changed direction to Black Metal). Sound Pollutionīs music is also weird Grindcore. But they have ten songs on their side, so imagine yourself...
Cool is also the statement of Rotting Christ: All fascist actions fuck off!
Written by Skariotis
Rotting Christ/Monumentum Split EP
This Split EP was released 1991 from Obscure Plasma Records (pre-Avantgarde Music), it features two songs from the Italian band Monumentum and one song from Rotting Christ.
The Monumentum songs are called Nephtali and Nostalgia Of The Infinite. The music can be described as very depressive Gothic Metal, with a vocalist sounding like if he is killing himself right in the next moment. Not for the weak hearts...
After their musical change on their demo Satanas Tedeum from Grindcore to early forms of Black Metal, Rotting Christ recorded one song from the legendary demo again and put it into this split EP. The song is called Feast Of The Grand Whore and in contrary to the demo version, the band added more keyboards to this slow Black Metal song, making it much darker and mystical! On this song, all the typical Hellenic elements of Black Metal are present, slow guitars, mystical keyboards which create an evil atmosphere and anti-religious lyrics. Rotting Christ will not be the only band from Greece, that will choose to follow this milestone song!
The Monumentum songs are called Nephtali and Nostalgia Of The Infinite. The music can be described as very depressive Gothic Metal, with a vocalist sounding like if he is killing himself right in the next moment. Not for the weak hearts...
After their musical change on their demo Satanas Tedeum from Grindcore to early forms of Black Metal, Rotting Christ recorded one song from the legendary demo again and put it into this split EP. The song is called Feast Of The Grand Whore and in contrary to the demo version, the band added more keyboards to this slow Black Metal song, making it much darker and mystical! On this song, all the typical Hellenic elements of Black Metal are present, slow guitars, mystical keyboards which create an evil atmosphere and anti-religious lyrics. Rotting Christ will not be the only band from Greece, that will choose to follow this milestone song!
Written by Skariotis
Rotting Christ - Dawn Of The Iconoclast
This EP was released in 1991 from the Greek label Decapitated Records (later changed to Unisound Records). It features two songs which appear just on this release. Rotting Christ had now four members, the new one was Morbid (Magus Wampyr Daoloth) on keyboards. The first song is The Nereid Of Esgalduin a grim Black Metal song with many tempo changes. Second song is Vicious Joy & Black Delight. Both songs are quite fast (but without blastbeats), the obligatory slow parts with keyboard are also there. The production is not very good, but the songs sound therefore more barbaric. Both songs are good but more straight edge than the songs from the Passage To Arcturo 10" EP, which came out in the same year.
Written by Skariotis
Rotting Christ - Apokathelosis
This EP was released in 1993 through the French label Osmose Productions, which released in the same year Rotting Christīs debut album Thy Mighty Contract. It features two songs, Visions Of The Dead Lovers and a new version of the song The Mystical Meeting, which appeared the first time on the Passage to Arcturo 12" mini LP. Both songs are in the same vein like the Thy Mighty Contract album, the band recorded them maybe in the same studio session. The sound is exactly the same as in Thy Mighty Contract. The new version of The Mystical Meeting is a little bit faster and has a better production. This EP was released for better album promotion. Both songs are not featured in the original Osmose version. On the re-release of Thy Mighty Contract from Century Media, which hit the streets in 1998, the Apokathelosis EP is included as bonus. Note that the EP title is written in Greek, so many sellers or reviewers are not able to tell the exact title.
Written by Skariotis
Rotting Christ - The Mystical Meeting
This 10" EP was released as picture EP from Century Media in 1997. It includes the two songs that were already released in 1993 on the Apokathelosis EP, Visions Of The Dead Lovers and The Mystical Meeting. On the other side there are cover versions of three Kreator songs, namely Tormentor, Flag Of Hate and Pleasure To Kill. The EP is limited to 500 copies, but if you want to get these songs easier, buy the digipack version of the Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers album, they are included there as bonus! By the way: great artwork on the vinyl!
Written by Skariotis
Rotting Christ - Satanas Tedeum
This is a re-release of Rotting Christīs legendary demo. The demo was released in 1989 and marked the bandīs turn from Grindcore to Black Metal, or Necrocanniballistic Deathnoise, as they call their sound. Now this version is a 12" vinyl version of that demo and it was released in 2006 from Greek Kyrck Productions. It is a collectorīs item, īcause itīs limited to 666 handnumbered copies and one side of the vinyl is etched with the cover of the initial demo cover (a demon or Iudas Iscariot). On the other side you get the five original songs, all digitally remastered (read the review of them in the demo section of the site). Additional to the EP is a two-sided poster, one side shows the cover with the pentagram and the other shows some old band pictures. Of course all lyrics are added (except the lyrics for the song The Sixth Communion) plus a sticker with the bandīs logo. If you want that limited EP, you should contact Kyrck Productions immediately, īcause this want be a slow seller! Get it or regret it!
Written by Skariotis
Sadistic Noise - The Crush Of Heaven
Sadistic Noiseīs first vinyl release is this EP, which was released by Greek Molon Lave Records in the year 1994. There are three songs on it, first of them is the title track. Itīs a faster song, totally in the vein of the early underground Thrash/Death Metal, quite perfect for headbanging. Second song is Final Summoning, a slower song with cool riffing in the Celtic Frost/Bathory tradition. Last track is the 40-second-blastbeat-massacre Eternal Black. Sadisitc Noise was basically an one-man-band. The mainman was Nick `Flesh` Tagalos, who contributed the guitars, vocals and bass. His vocals tends to the Beherit-direction, quite nasty but great! For this recording he used the help of the drummer Mike. The production reminds the production of many other bands of Molon Lave on that period (the guitar sound here is slightly better), and the sound engineer was The Magus from Necromantia, so the similarities to other Hellenic bands are more than understandable. All in all this is great underground EP full of honest and raw Death/Black Metal music and today it is rightly a sought-after release!
In the end of 2006 the Hellenic Metal scene mourned the passing of mainman Nick, thus the chapter Sadistic Noise has sadly ended.
In the end of 2006 the Hellenic Metal scene mourned the passing of mainman Nick, thus the chapter Sadistic Noise has sadly ended.
Written by Skariotis
Septic Flesh - Temple Of The Lost Race
This is one of the hardest to find Hellenic releases, from one of the most influential atmospheric Death Metal bands on this planet! It contains four songs and was released by Greek label Black Power Records in 1991. Septic Flesh had their very own sound, right from the start!
The EP starts with Erebus, a haunting Death Metal song. Then comes Another Reality, which proves the unique sound of the band, putting atmospheric keyboards and a beautiful guitar solo into a ripping Death Metal song. Track three is the title track, Temple Of The Lost Race, which continues inimitable the path, Septic Flesh has chosen. Last song is Setting Of The Two Suns, which at the beginning is a bit smoother than the other songs, but than evolves into a great piece! With this EP it was just a matter of time, till Septic Flesh get a record deal with a label. Holy Records was the one which acted first and signed the band! Horns up for this truly cult release!
The EP starts with Erebus, a haunting Death Metal song. Then comes Another Reality, which proves the unique sound of the band, putting atmospheric keyboards and a beautiful guitar solo into a ripping Death Metal song. Track three is the title track, Temple Of The Lost Race, which continues inimitable the path, Septic Flesh has chosen. Last song is Setting Of The Two Suns, which at the beginning is a bit smoother than the other songs, but than evolves into a great piece! With this EP it was just a matter of time, till Septic Flesh get a record deal with a label. Holy Records was the one which acted first and signed the band! Horns up for this truly cult release!
Written by Skariotis
Spider Kickers - The Kingdom Of Epirus
Spider Kickers is a band from the Greek region of Epirus. In 1993 they released their first work, The Kingdom Of Epirus EP, via the Hellenic label Molon Lave Records. It features two songs, Screams In My Pain and Evil Side. Both songs are great tunes of late 80īs/early 90īs Thrash/Death Metal. They remember us a time as bands like Sepultura escaped from the underground and presented us a fresh and hungry sound with albums like Schizophrenia and Beneath The Remains! It was time for a faster and brutal form of Thrash Metal with more extreme vocals. And exactly that way Spider Kickers sounds in 1993. Real underground Thrash Metal fans will surely get nostalgic feelings after listening to that EP, so grab it, if you see it!
Written by Skariotis
Thou Art Lord - Diabolou Archaes Legeones
This was the first release of the infamous "all-star-project" Thou Art Lord, with band members Necromayhem (Sakis - Rotting Christ), Morbid (alias Magus Wampyr Daoloth - Necromantia and also Rotting Christ) and Gothmog (Mortify). They made this project to play more extreme music than they used to play with their own bands. So the music of Thou Art Lord can be described as the evil little brother of Rotting Christ and Necromantia.
There are two songs on this EP, which was released in 1993 through Molon Lave Records. The first song is The Era Of Satan Rising. From the start till the end, this is aggressive Black Metal, with a Rotting Christ-like part in the middle (slower guitar riff, melodic solo...). Itīs a little bit too long, īcause the fast parts are repeated too often. Then comes Praisnig The Impure, also an angry Black Metal assault, whose song parts are almost the same as the first track, fast beginning, slow middle part, then again fast at the end.
Both songs are typical for the early material of the band. The Era Of Satan Rising is also included on Thou Art Lordīs first album Eosforos. Not a bad release, but I think, Thou Art Lord got stronger as time passed by. Please note, that there is also a CD on the market with the name Diabolou Archaes Legeones from Thou Art Lord. Itīs a compilation CD of Unisound Records, which contains the first two albums, Eosforos and Apollyon. Itīs not an official release by the band, but was done without permission!
Written by Skariotis
Thou Art Lord/Ancient Rites Split EP
Molon Lave not only released in the year 1993 the first Thou Art Lord EP, Diabolou Archaes Legeones, but also a split EP with Belgian Black Metallers Ancient Rites. Every band contributed one song.
The song of Ancient Rites is called From Beyond The Grave II. Music can be described as midtempo Black/Thrash Metal with keyboards. They could had come from Greece, you would not hear the difference, Ancient Rites never played Norwegian Black Metal! Thou Art Lordīs song is called In Blood We Trust. Itīs also a midtempo song, but getting really fast in the middle. Thou Art Lordīs music is much simpler then the music of Rotting Christ and Necromantia. It is more straight ahead, but has for me a too simple songwriting. The song is also included in the second album of Thou Art Lord, Apollyon. Not bad, but there is much better to come...
The song of Ancient Rites is called From Beyond The Grave II. Music can be described as midtempo Black/Thrash Metal with keyboards. They could had come from Greece, you would not hear the difference, Ancient Rites never played Norwegian Black Metal! Thou Art Lordīs song is called In Blood We Trust. Itīs also a midtempo song, but getting really fast in the middle. Thou Art Lordīs music is much simpler then the music of Rotting Christ and Necromantia. It is more straight ahead, but has for me a too simple songwriting. The song is also included in the second album of Thou Art Lord, Apollyon. Not bad, but there is much better to come...
Written by Skariotis
Unholy Archangel Blessed By Aris
This is Unholy Archangels first non-demo release. The 7" EP was released in 1999. There are four songs on it, which are better than their demosongs. Despite their narrow abilities, Unholy Archangel seem to have fun in what they are doing. Just look at the photos on the EP, full of spikes, axes and crossbows... The EP has a nice inlay with a poster of a spartan warrior. The music is more structured and not so chaotic anymore. They even have now a drummer who can play!
Written by Skariotis
Unholy Archangel - The Wrath Of Kosmosistis
This 10" EP was released in the year 2003. It features all previous trademarks of the band. Ultra-fast, chaotic songs, primitive (in no positive way) songwriting and lyrics about ancient Hellas. All songs are short in duration, sound pretty much the same and the production is full of amateurish recording mistakes. Why writing fast songs, when you canīt play them? Well, the few slow parts donīt sound more professional. This band is millions of miles away from the quality of other Hellenic Black Metal bands! The only good thing is the cover artwork.
Written by Skariotis
Varathron - One Step Beyond Dreams
This is Varathronīs first official EP. It was released in 1991 through Greek label Black Vomit Records. Varathron had released just demos before this EP. It contains two songs. The line-up is very interesting, with main member Stephan "Necroabyssious" and guitarist John there were Jim and Themis from Rotting Christ (bass and drums) and Stavros (second guitar) from Horrified.
The first of the two songs is Descent Of A Prophetic Vision, a fine mix of Black/Thrash and early Death metal. Trashy guitars, a good solo and the the growls of Stephan make this song very enjoyable. Second song is Genesis Of Apocryphal Desire, a faster song than the previous one, but with the same attitude. What I like most on this release is, that it is not really possible to differ between the styles, īcause back then there was no border between Black or Death Metal. Death Metal with occult lyrics could also be Black Metal (read the liner notes of the first Morbid Angel album...). Black Metal as we know it in its typical Norwegian form didnīt exist. There was only ONE extreme music scene. And Varathron was one of its leaders in Greece!
The first of the two songs is Descent Of A Prophetic Vision, a fine mix of Black/Thrash and early Death metal. Trashy guitars, a good solo and the the growls of Stephan make this song very enjoyable. Second song is Genesis Of Apocryphal Desire, a faster song than the previous one, but with the same attitude. What I like most on this release is, that it is not really possible to differ between the styles, īcause back then there was no border between Black or Death Metal. Death Metal with occult lyrics could also be Black Metal (read the liner notes of the first Morbid Angel album...). Black Metal as we know it in its typical Norwegian form didnīt exist. There was only ONE extreme music scene. And Varathron was one of its leaders in Greece!
Written by Skariotis
Vorphalack - Under The Sight Of Dragon
Vorphalack is one of the oldest Black Metal bands in Greece. Their first release was this EP. It was released from Greek label Molon Lave Records in 1993. It contains two songs.
The first song is Hall Of Death. From the first note, one can recognise the origin of this band! A track, like Varathron meets Iron Maiden. Great slow riff, mystical sounding keyboards and in the middle a midtempo part, with a galopping bass and a Dave Murray-like guitar solo! All the elements combined together fit perfectly, creating an own style, which is mainly Heavy Metal with a strong black feeling! And this great music continues on the second song, Obssessed. It begins with an organ intro, before the mighty guitar starts. Again this song is slow, the vocals of Funeral (later changed to Lord Alatoth, the only founding member who is still in Vorphalack) are deep and demonic, the guitar work and the solo is again amazing.
I was gladly surprised when I listened to the EP the first time. The two songs belong to the best, the Hellenic Black Metal scene had to offer in the early 90īs!
The first song is Hall Of Death. From the first note, one can recognise the origin of this band! A track, like Varathron meets Iron Maiden. Great slow riff, mystical sounding keyboards and in the middle a midtempo part, with a galopping bass and a Dave Murray-like guitar solo! All the elements combined together fit perfectly, creating an own style, which is mainly Heavy Metal with a strong black feeling! And this great music continues on the second song, Obssessed. It begins with an organ intro, before the mighty guitar starts. Again this song is slow, the vocals of Funeral (later changed to Lord Alatoth, the only founding member who is still in Vorphalack) are deep and demonic, the guitar work and the solo is again amazing.
I was gladly surprised when I listened to the EP the first time. The two songs belong to the best, the Hellenic Black Metal scene had to offer in the early 90īs!
Written by Skariotis
Vorphalack/Zephyrous Split LP
This 12" Split EP of the two Hellenic Black Metal bands was released in the year 1995 by Melancholy Promotion. Both bands contribute four songs. Vorphalackīs side begins with the intro Prophetic Vision Of A Cursed Domain and continues with the first song In Search For Glory, a nice, melodic Black Metal song with lots of keyboards. This song is also on their Black Sorrow For A Dead Brother demo tape. Next track is Land Of Lore, a boring and powerless song with too much breaks. Last song of Vorphalack is Life Draining Of An Unspeakable Act, also a song which is light-years away from the high quality of their legendary Under The Sight Of Dragon EP. Sad evolution for a band which once started really powerfully. All four songs of that split EP are recycled in the Lullabies Of A Vampire CD.
Zephyrous side is much stronger. Their way of playing Black Metal is unique. Their songs on this release are played without distorted guitars. Itīs kind of strange, but it sounds good. The sound is based on the bass, the undistorted guitar and the atmospheric keyboard, all combined with pure Black Metal screams. You may notice the guitar only because there is sometimes a solo. Nevertheless, they have always the Hellenic touch of Black Metal in their songs, as you can hear it in Ichor and The Serpent Race. Both songs have an influence of folky and bluesy elements, due to the missing guitars, but singer Dreamlord is still screaming like a maniac! Great songs. Third track is Dreamers, a calm interlude with beautiful piano melodies. The split LP ends with Entrance And Wandering On The Seven Zones, which features distorted instruments, but it almost sounds like a distorted bass, just like Necromantia use it. But there is of course no similarity to a Necromantia song. Zephyrous side is not only better regarding the sound and the songwriting, you really will get the most unusual Black Metal band out of Greece! If you donīt want to waste your money on Vorphalack, Zephyrous released their side again as mini CD, called A Caress Of War And Wisdom!
Zephyrous side is much stronger. Their way of playing Black Metal is unique. Their songs on this release are played without distorted guitars. Itīs kind of strange, but it sounds good. The sound is based on the bass, the undistorted guitar and the atmospheric keyboard, all combined with pure Black Metal screams. You may notice the guitar only because there is sometimes a solo. Nevertheless, they have always the Hellenic touch of Black Metal in their songs, as you can hear it in Ichor and The Serpent Race. Both songs have an influence of folky and bluesy elements, due to the missing guitars, but singer Dreamlord is still screaming like a maniac! Great songs. Third track is Dreamers, a calm interlude with beautiful piano melodies. The split LP ends with Entrance And Wandering On The Seven Zones, which features distorted instruments, but it almost sounds like a distorted bass, just like Necromantia use it. But there is of course no similarity to a Necromantia song. Zephyrous side is not only better regarding the sound and the songwriting, you really will get the most unusual Black Metal band out of Greece! If you donīt want to waste your money on Vorphalack, Zephyrous released their side again as mini CD, called A Caress Of War And Wisdom!
Written by Skariotis
Vorphalack - In Memory...
Three years after the split LP with Zephyrous, Vorphalack released the next work, a 12" mini LP called In Memory... It was released in the year 1998 by the Greek label Melancholy Promotion and it is dedicated to Anton Szandor LaVey, the founder of the Church Of Satan, who died one year before. The mini LP contains five tracks of furious Black Metal. The improvement to the last split LP, which is a mediocre release, is immediately hearable. The opener Angel Of Light sets the mark for the musical direction of this release, fast Black Metal with the adoption of keyboards, which sound exactly like the keys of Dimmu Borgirīs Enthrone Darkness Triumphant. Also the music is purely influenced by Scandinavian Black Metal, not Hellenic. Even when the music is getting slower, it does not remind the Greek scene. Maybe thatīs the weak point of this release, everything is standard. Standard production, standard songwriting, itīs not bad, but ordinary. The only exception is the last song The Meeting. Itīs a slower song, therefore it sticks easier into your mind. Here you can almost hear the Greek roots of the band, which once released a great EP in the early 90īs. I wonder why these tracks are not re-released on the Lullabies Of A Vampire CD, instead they took weaker material of the band. Strange, strange...
Written by Skariotis
Vorphalack Daemonium Magister
2004 saw a new release of Vorphalack. It is the 7 EP Daemonium Magister and it is released by Italian label Danza Ipnotica Records. Having lost all other members from the past, mainman Lord Alatoth joined forces with Khal Drogo from Nocternity and recorded these two new tracks. A description of Vorphalacks sound of the year 2004 is simple: it sounds like Nocternity. Both songs were written and produced by Khal Drogo, Lord Alatoth contributed lyrics and did the vocals, which sound almost like the vocals of ex-Nocternity singer Merkaal. So every fan of the Nocternity EPs (which have an inferior production than the albums) will be pleased from Vorphalacks Daemonium Magister. Anyway, this project has lost its musical identity many years before, due to numerous line-up changes. If you consider every release, you will notice, that there is no natural evolution, you just listen to the musical influences of the then-musicians, because Lord Alatoth contributes more or less just lyrics.
Zemial - Sleeping Under Tartarus
This was Zemialīs first EP release. It hit the scene in the year 1992, released from the US label Torched Records. In 1994 it was re-released by Gothic Records, with a different cover (just the bandīs and EPīs name in red on black ground). The cover of the first release is painted by Absuīs Equitant.
Zemialīs music is a mix between the best elements of Hellenic and Norwegian Black Metal, with a touch of Bathoryīs early albums. There are three songs on this EP. The first is the title track, Sleeping Under Tartarus. It starts mid-tempo with a good rhythm, the guitar riff is just killer! The vocals of Vorskaath are norse-like screams. A wonderful evidence of early 90īs Black Metal! Next song is Falling Into The Absu..., a song with no fast part, but with grim guitars and an absolutely amazing end. Last song is The Scourge Of The Kingdom, itīs the fastest song of this release. Track one and three were later included on the Iron Pegasus re-release of Zemialīs debut album For The Glory Of UR.
All three songs are amazing and give a good example, how early Zemial played Black Metal which today is described as the "second generation of Black Metal". But Zemial are still a "cult" band, hardly known to a wider Black Metal audience. It is not difficult to imagine, that with a good record label they would had become "leaders" of the genre.
Zemialīs music is a mix between the best elements of Hellenic and Norwegian Black Metal, with a touch of Bathoryīs early albums. There are three songs on this EP. The first is the title track, Sleeping Under Tartarus. It starts mid-tempo with a good rhythm, the guitar riff is just killer! The vocals of Vorskaath are norse-like screams. A wonderful evidence of early 90īs Black Metal! Next song is Falling Into The Absu..., a song with no fast part, but with grim guitars and an absolutely amazing end. Last song is The Scourge Of The Kingdom, itīs the fastest song of this release. Track one and three were later included on the Iron Pegasus re-release of Zemialīs debut album For The Glory Of UR.
All three songs are amazing and give a good example, how early Zemial played Black Metal which today is described as the "second generation of Black Metal". But Zemial are still a "cult" band, hardly known to a wider Black Metal audience. It is not difficult to imagine, that with a good record label they would had become "leaders" of the genre.
Written by Skariotis
Zemial - Necrolatry
Recorded at Hellīs studio... using an analogue 4-track-machine.
Do you need any further introduction? Well, I should write a bit more about this absolutely cult EP. But I could stop here with the review as well, īcause the statement says everything!
The recording was done in 1997 in Zemialīs rehearsal room, with the mentioned 4-track analogue-machine. This recording was spread by the band as a promo-cassette, but due to the high demand, Iron Pegasus released it in 2000 as a limited 12" EP to 666 copies and as Picture Disc limited to 100 copies. It is the first musical sign of life since Zemial moved to Australia in the mid 90īs. There are five songs and one outro on Necrolatry. The EP starts with Eclipse and you hear immediately that the band changed since their early days, although you still hear that this is Zemial. The music became more oldschool Black Metal, and has nothing in common with the Scandinavian Black Metal of that time. Inspirations are early Bathory, Venom and Celtic Frost, but these are only far comparisons, īcause Zemial always had its own identity regarding Black Metal. All songs are based on strong riffing in the typical Zemial way. Most time the speed is mid-tempo and it gets often fast, but never blastbeat-fast. Dragonīs Touch continues in the vein of Eclipse, whereas Nocturnal Witch (or Bitch, it depends on how you read this title) is a short, thrashy up-tempo rocker, which appears also on the re-release the For The Glory Of UR CD. I like that song very much, but now I have to say thatīs the weakest songs on Necrolatry (I like the weakest song very much... now you probably understand what I feel about the rest!). Possessed By Twilight is just another great Zemial song, which reminds me at the end Agatus, the band of Zemialīs guitarist Eskarth. He and Zemialīs mainman Vorskaath are brothers, two guys, two great bands! Last song is Breath Of The Pestilence. Itīs more epic than the other songs and it ends with one of the most evil outros I ever listened! The sound of the EP is raw and unpolished, but it is not bad, you can hear clearly all instruments, even the bass and the cymbals. I had to wait long till I found this EP, but the waiting time was more than worth! The Necrolatry EP is re-released on CD (together with the Face Of The Conqueror EP), now it is easier for YOU to get it.
Do you need any further introduction? Well, I should write a bit more about this absolutely cult EP. But I could stop here with the review as well, īcause the statement says everything!
The recording was done in 1997 in Zemialīs rehearsal room, with the mentioned 4-track analogue-machine. This recording was spread by the band as a promo-cassette, but due to the high demand, Iron Pegasus released it in 2000 as a limited 12" EP to 666 copies and as Picture Disc limited to 100 copies. It is the first musical sign of life since Zemial moved to Australia in the mid 90īs. There are five songs and one outro on Necrolatry. The EP starts with Eclipse and you hear immediately that the band changed since their early days, although you still hear that this is Zemial. The music became more oldschool Black Metal, and has nothing in common with the Scandinavian Black Metal of that time. Inspirations are early Bathory, Venom and Celtic Frost, but these are only far comparisons, īcause Zemial always had its own identity regarding Black Metal. All songs are based on strong riffing in the typical Zemial way. Most time the speed is mid-tempo and it gets often fast, but never blastbeat-fast. Dragonīs Touch continues in the vein of Eclipse, whereas Nocturnal Witch (or Bitch, it depends on how you read this title) is a short, thrashy up-tempo rocker, which appears also on the re-release the For The Glory Of UR CD. I like that song very much, but now I have to say thatīs the weakest songs on Necrolatry (I like the weakest song very much... now you probably understand what I feel about the rest!). Possessed By Twilight is just another great Zemial song, which reminds me at the end Agatus, the band of Zemialīs guitarist Eskarth. He and Zemialīs mainman Vorskaath are brothers, two guys, two great bands! Last song is Breath Of The Pestilence. Itīs more epic than the other songs and it ends with one of the most evil outros I ever listened! The sound of the EP is raw and unpolished, but it is not bad, you can hear clearly all instruments, even the bass and the cymbals. I had to wait long till I found this EP, but the waiting time was more than worth! The Necrolatry EP is re-released on CD (together with the Face Of The Conqueror EP), now it is easier for YOU to get it.
Written by Skariotis
Zemial - Face Of The Conqueror
This 10" EP was released from the Greek/German label Iron Pegasus Records in 2003 and contains four songs and one outro. The first song is the title track, Face Of The Conqueror, a hymn of traditional Black Thrashing Metal! A sharp guitar intro is cutting deep wounds into your flesh, the voice of Vorskaath is evil as hell, the music! Song two begins faster, Zemial strikes again with a blasphemous old school attack! "I bring you rest, rest in PEACE", what a statement! Next song Fullmoon Necrophilia stands in the same phalanx as its two predecessors, no single note is weak! Last song is Daimon, which was also released on the Split EP with Hellenic paganists Kawir. I must mention the wonderful guitar solo! Iron Maiden couldnīt have made this better! The outro is called Pazuzu Returns, which is a very oriental/psychedelic sounding drum track, with oriental invocations in the background. For me, this is Zemialīs strongest output. What I donīt understand, is the narrowness of their releases. These songs on a well distributed CD (not limited to 666 or 1000 copies like their EPīs) would reach many metal fans and would spread the fame of Zemial enormously. The EP is indeed re-released as CD from the bandīs own label Nyx (together with the Necrolatry EP), but it is not distributed by a bigger label. Get in contact with the band, to get your copy!
Written by Skariotis
Zemial/Kawir - Daimon Split EP
This split EP was released in 2003 through Australian Apocalyptor Records. Every band contributes one song, each called Daimon.
The song of Zemial is called Daimon (Morfeus) and it is a good example, how Zemialīs music evolved through the time. Zemial plays nowadays a mix of Black/Thrash Metal, more simple, very traditional and heavy as hell. The vocals of Vorskaath are not typical Black Metal anymore, but, like the music, more thrashy. Sometimes the song reminds me old Slayer, Venom or Bathory.
The song of Zemial is called Daimon (Morfeus) and it is a good example, how Zemialīs music evolved through the time. Zemial plays nowadays a mix of Black/Thrash Metal, more simple, very traditional and heavy as hell. The vocals of Vorskaath are not typical Black Metal anymore, but, like the music, more thrashy. Sometimes the song reminds me old Slayer, Venom or Bathory.
The song of Kawir is called Daimon (Empousa) and its lyrics are completely written in ancient Greek. Kawir delivers us a song which stands in typical Kawir tradition. Their last album Epoptia had English lyrics, now Kawir returns to ancient Greek (this will continue until their latest effort, the new album Arai). The vocals are vile Black Metal, the music is mostly mid-tempo with some fast elements.
Both Daimon songs are very good, both bands contribute a song to a demon, what an excellent idea! This EP also shows, how the Greek sound emerged in the last decade. Zemial and Kawir had a common style in their early days, now each band found its own way to play Hellenic Black Metal!
Both Daimon songs are very good, both bands contribute a song to a demon, what an excellent idea! This EP also shows, how the Greek sound emerged in the last decade. Zemial and Kawir had a common style in their early days, now each band found its own way to play Hellenic Black Metal!
Written by Skariotis
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