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Thursday 16 December 2021

Reviews: Agnes Vein, Mercury X, Sorcerer, Archives (Reviews By Matt Bladen)

Agnes Vein - Deathcall (Venerate Records)

When a band cites their influences as Celtic Frost, Candlemass and Neurosis, I have to sit up and listen, luckily I have already heard recordings by Thessaloniki based band Agnes Vein so I sort of knew what to expect from them, but Deathcall typifies a long drawn out process that has led to the record. Multiple tours, records and support slots with Electric Wizard, Primordial and Rotting Christ have meant that line ups have changed and this record has taken longer than billed but Agnes Vein look set on bursting out of the Greek Underground with their angry, torrential, ear piercing fusion of black and doom metal that has an oppressive post-metal atmosphere and sludge heaviness. 

The title track drags us down into the depths of despair with the first real sludge offering. The slow build from the rhythm section of bassist Lefteris K and drummer Foivos brings us juddering towards the final eruption of Sakis Kioses' cleaner guitar finale, this shimmering, repeating guitar sound continues on the cathartic Vultures Hymn (Praise Bounteous) again a track that comes one of creeping out of your speakers, it's a got that post-black metal maniacal feel to it. Both of these tracks are heavier riffers that draw you into Agnes Vein's world of musical unease. 

Thirdly on this album, we get Sovereign Star which is a lumbering slab of classic doom metal which amps up the psych towards the climax. You can really hear the Candlemass influence on Sovereign Star while They Who Neared The Portal is reminiscent of Tom G. Warrior and Celtic Frost, Sakis' vocals changing from a Satanic growl to a harrowing howl across the 7 minute run time. At this point we are being brought towards the final two songs on the record, up first is Rara Null a grinding death metal thumper with doom influences that bangs through your speakers like a lead hammer. Much like the rest of this album Agnes Vein show they are masters of song construction, the build and release on offer here, means that Deathcall is one you will want to answer! 9/10  

Mercury X - Imprisoned (Frontiers Music Srl)

Mercury X formed in 2013 but they take their sound from 80's progressive metal, full of European power metal influences. Retaining the founding membership of guitarist/lead vocalist/violinist Martin Björklund, bassist Alfonso Flores, guitarist Jonas Vedin, and drummer/lead vocalist Denis Diaz, Imprisoned came about when the band members started writing the 20 minute title track, their intention was to release it as an EP but they are a prog band so, they couldn't stop there though, as with all prog bands the inspiration and musical dexterity just manifested itself in to four additional songs which make for a 50 odd minute album of five tracks. 

Until The Break Of Day is our first foray into the major label debut from Mercury X and it begins with heavy riffs, orchestral swells and classical flourishes. If bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Queensryche and even fellow Swedes Pain Of Salvation. Built around an anthemic chorus the song switches between slower versus and anthemic choruses throughout very much making for a punchy opening number. 

Second we get The Light In Your Eyes which brings jazzier, proggier timing along with galloping power metal as Lonely ups the AOR melodies of bands like Circus Maximus. Of course the real centerpiece of the record is the 20 minute title track but the rest of the album doesn't on anyway feel tacked on. It's Mercury X giving us a strong overview of what they do as a band and if you're a lover of classic prog metal then Imprisoned will be playing all through your festive season. 7/10

Sorcerer - Reverence (Metal Blade Records)

For a lot of bands during the pandemic, the covers record is quite an easy way of releasing material that doesn't have to be written from scratch, rehearsed, changed etc. These songs already exist so bands just have to learn them and add their own style to them. Following on from their last album in 2020, Swedish doom band Sorcerer have recently released this four track EP that features covers from four of rock/metals most recognisable bands. There is of course some Sabbath, but not the Sabbath you'd expect as they play When Death Calls from The Headless Cross, a record I consider to be one of the best post Ozzy, Sabbath records. 

The Ozman does cometh on Waiting For Darkness where the drama of the track is brought through, though vocalist Anders Enberg. He is a much better vocalist than Osbourne though. He shows this throughout the record as he is able to emultes singers such as Dio and Biff Byford on Gates Of Babylon and Crusader which are the other two songs on this EP. Sorcerer have very much added their own sound to these classics, but they never stray to far. Not often a covers EP gets a high score here but Sorcerer are great band and the bands they are covering are probably their biggest influences. 8/10

Archives - Decay (Self Released)

We used to have a guy here who would take nearly all of the metalcore, unfortunately that didn't work out for many reasons so we have to now share out these bands between all of us here at MoM. Now metalcore is not usually my bag, but when checking out some of these metalcore bands, there have been a few that have impressed. With that in mind I fired up the debut full length from Norn Iron heavies Archives who seem to play a style that is bang up to date. Adam Holland and lead guitarist Stewart Ferguson provide that dual vocal metalcore sound, Holland with the snarls and growls while Ferguson provides the cleans as well as melodic lead guitars. 

The band state influences such as Parkway Drive and Architects, with both of these bands looming large over the album; the cleaner, melodic choruses of the title track or the quieter parts of Unity, are often a side to the thunderously heavy grooves from Samuel Irwin (rhythm guitar), Paul Douglas (bass) and drummer Daryl Montgomery on tracks like Blueprints and Parmaviolence where the riffs are nastier. Archives are another addition to the burgeoning British metalcore scene. 7/10  

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