Death League - Inferno (Theogonia Records)
Death metal has many forms and on Inferno, Death League's debut album they are inspired by the melodic death metal scene of Sweden and rampage through your speakers with this record. It's like a fire ranging through a barren forest, the guttural vocals of Astrous delivering a hell of a performance as the band behind him provide punishing death metal.
The thick bass of Vassilis Liakos booms to set a killer pace alongside the intense technical drumming of Nikos Tsintzilonis both come from power metal band Black Fate. Together they add the muscular rhythms to tracks such as Approaching The Madness and Annihilated Race. Across the whole album Jim Gaianos' guitars shred and solo with virtuosity, he tears through things with speed, although it's Gus Drax of Suicidal Angels/Sunburst/Black Fate who provides the solo for Approaching The Madness.
Melodeath with the focus on melody, be it Swedish or Finnish, these Greeks do it pretty damn well. 7/10
Orra - Glimmer Of Hope (Sleazsy Rider Records)
Glimmer Of Hope is a slow burner, the debut album from Greek prog metal band Orra is meant to be played multiple times. The tracks smoulder and simmer as they build into elongated workouts of virtuosity. Featuring Louis Hatzimihalis the singer of Fatal Morgana and Equal Vector. Orra are inspired by Fates Warning, King Crimson and Queensryche, they merge modern and classic prog metal, focussing on the 70's sound (Infinity) but with modern production.
Open melodic chords are used for some stirring melodies on Brace The Fall as In Light's Shadow is layered by organs. There's quite a good mix of shorter snappier tracks and elongated atmospheric ones such as In Pulse (The Long Errand) and At The Edge Of The World. The blending of prog rock and metal works well. Musically it's good stuff though the vocals let it down a little when Louis tries to hit the Geddy Lee but never quite gets there. The music here is good, the vocals are ok, for the most part but Orra's prog is well worth a listen. 7/10
Vonavibe - Locked Up (Eclipse Records)
I assume Locked Up was conceived by Athens alt metal band during Covid as it's called Locked Up and consists of covers. Whatever the reason for it, it's actually a pretty decent little EP while we wait for another full length album.
Opening with Mad World, by Tears For Fears, it breathes a bit of pace and heaviness into what is originally a gothic ballad, retaining the passion and pathos of the original. Next it's Blinding Lights, the Weeknd's electronic pop shifting into some proggy rock that sounds like Von Hertzen Brothers and is the best song on the EP. Lastly it's Linkin Park's Bleed It Out which doesn't change much from the normal version other than grittier vocals. A fun experiment but not essential. 6/10
Cult Of Orpist - Attack Of The Zombie Cans (Brutal Records)
Attack Of The Zombie Cans is the debut full length from Greek death/thrash band Cult Of Orpist, formed on 2021 they have one EP to their name but here's they have made a full record of nine songs that's are still inspired by the likes of Slayer, Kreator and Sodom.
It's ruthless and aggressive, thrash and death coming together with gore soaked 90's worship driven by Chris Panagitsas' ferocious rhythm playing, he's got a HM-2 and knows how to use it as Sotos Dimitropoulos blasts on the kit locked in with Hector Sohos' rampant bass abuse and raw, gargled vocals.
Now his voice is clear which is god send it's just like gargling sand paper and while it's mainly about the riffs, George Dimitrakakis dive-bombs in and out with solos. They take the Left Hand Path on Chainsaw Justice and Humiliation, grooving with the rage of Entombed. 90's thrash/death worship that will in incite pits. 7/10
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