Certainly not something you see everyday! Firstly I have to say that
Cyprus has never found itself popular in the black/death metal area.
Mostly because of a general lack of good bands in that particular genre
and the minimal presence of something atleast resembling a metal scene.
Godblood's "Those Funeral Times" dark album released almost a decade ago
still remains alone and unfollowed.. Nevertheless what we have here is a fine specimen of Cyprus black/death straight from the capitals pits!
Now unto the demo. For some reason when I first heard the demo two bands came to my mind: Absurd (Asgradsrei) and Varathron (pre Walpurgisnacht era). After a listen or two I realised why. Its not necessarily because of any similarity between the technical aspects (although the raw and harsh production between the demo and Absurd's pre 1997 releases bear a striking rememblance) of the two bands but more the feeling. Yes there is that tinge of creativity in the demo. There are some interesting ideas; they do need work but they are *there*. Its like a fade voice emanating throughout the demo's songs urging to be heard. There are some good moments in the demo but at times its nature seems mediocre and offhand which is probably due to a lack of experience and hinders the bands strive for an individual identity. First it starts out with a somewhat smooth guitar play before the rest of the band kicks in. The song maintains a fairly good posture throughout making it a good candidate for a standout track. Next two songs push through more or less on the same mid-tempo scales heightening in short spurts to faster rhythms. Onwards to Bloodwing rebellion, where the bands lack of experience and poor technical acquisition is again evident, the guitars are striving to follow rhythm changes, hardly any maintanance of tempo thrust (the artificial nature of the drum machine makes it sound somewhat out of sync) and the solos which at times seem completely out of place. Santes Sanctorum cranks out some catchy melodies here and there that I must admit caused the occasional nod of the head. The vocalist manages a good delivery throughout maintaining that menacing tone of aggression. Its definetely a style suited for the bands sound. Last song At the rotting gates of heaven has some interesting elements thrown in including a synth intro to transcend the moods lets say and the vocalist recitating the lyrics midway in a deep bassy voice. And finally the demo ends pretty much how it started: with a smooth guitar play fading into silence. Lyrically the band deals with mythological(?)/historical events (namely Tenth Archon) to deeply personal (Tear on the Heart, At the rotting gates of heaven). Can't say that there is any sort of ideology expressed or a general concept; more like a collection of dark prose trying to express the angst of a turmoiled psyche that most extreme black/death bands seem to center around.
I guess there's only one thing to say here: practise and *only* practise makes perfect. Its the bands first steps here and I see them as a growing ball of fire; whether it'll grow or fade out only time will show.
Up the horns and support the f*cking underground!
Now unto the demo. For some reason when I first heard the demo two bands came to my mind: Absurd (Asgradsrei) and Varathron (pre Walpurgisnacht era). After a listen or two I realised why. Its not necessarily because of any similarity between the technical aspects (although the raw and harsh production between the demo and Absurd's pre 1997 releases bear a striking rememblance) of the two bands but more the feeling. Yes there is that tinge of creativity in the demo. There are some interesting ideas; they do need work but they are *there*. Its like a fade voice emanating throughout the demo's songs urging to be heard. There are some good moments in the demo but at times its nature seems mediocre and offhand which is probably due to a lack of experience and hinders the bands strive for an individual identity. First it starts out with a somewhat smooth guitar play before the rest of the band kicks in. The song maintains a fairly good posture throughout making it a good candidate for a standout track. Next two songs push through more or less on the same mid-tempo scales heightening in short spurts to faster rhythms. Onwards to Bloodwing rebellion, where the bands lack of experience and poor technical acquisition is again evident, the guitars are striving to follow rhythm changes, hardly any maintanance of tempo thrust (the artificial nature of the drum machine makes it sound somewhat out of sync) and the solos which at times seem completely out of place. Santes Sanctorum cranks out some catchy melodies here and there that I must admit caused the occasional nod of the head. The vocalist manages a good delivery throughout maintaining that menacing tone of aggression. Its definetely a style suited for the bands sound. Last song At the rotting gates of heaven has some interesting elements thrown in including a synth intro to transcend the moods lets say and the vocalist recitating the lyrics midway in a deep bassy voice. And finally the demo ends pretty much how it started: with a smooth guitar play fading into silence. Lyrically the band deals with mythological(?)/historical events (namely Tenth Archon) to deeply personal (Tear on the Heart, At the rotting gates of heaven). Can't say that there is any sort of ideology expressed or a general concept; more like a collection of dark prose trying to express the angst of a turmoiled psyche that most extreme black/death bands seem to center around.
I guess there's only one thing to say here: practise and *only* practise makes perfect. Its the bands first steps here and I see them as a growing ball of fire; whether it'll grow or fade out only time will show.
Up the horns and support the f*cking underground!
(written for Metal Archives - 20/3/2005)
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