Now this is more like it when it comes to death metal. Blasteroid started life as a band who played technical death/thrash but now they have entered the more progressive galaxies to return with the brilliant Crypts Of Mind.
The first thing you notice is that Chris Koutalelis and Spyros Pavlis try to pack on as may riffs as humanly possible, weaving intricate arpeggios, tremolo picking, sweep picking, atmospheric elements and virtuoso soloing on every track, shifting what they play several times throughout the song. For example Of Nature Unknown which is more melodic or the shredfest that is Chaos God.
Fans of Obscura, Cynic or Atheist will immediately be drawn to the guitar playing but as a true connoisseurs will know it's the bass and drums that make technical/progressive death metal so impressive, so Manos Skoularakos' solo section on a tracks such as Void Alchemy or Binary Orbit or Jim Makrinakis way of leading the frequent shifts on Entwined or Void Alchemy with just inhuman blasting is really where the power lies. George Emmanuel's production skill keeps Crypts Of Mind razor sharp, even giving immense clarity to Alexis Papatheofanous' raging vocals.
As the extremely proggy title track closes out the album, Blasteroid have taken you on a journey of intergalactic travel musical dexterity that will leave you a little breathless but desperate to do it again. 8/10
Forbidden Myth - Zantea Chronicles : The Nightmare Awakens (Hydraulis Records)
The sequel to Zantea Chronicles : The Dream Dominator, The Nightmare Awakens is another huge concept record from musical director Antonis Adelfidis, he wrote the storyline alongside Myrto Gregoriadi, but Antonis is the main composer here. He also plays most of the instruments here: Acoustic Piano, Electric Pianos, Hammond Organ, Combo Organs, Mellotron, Hohner Clavinet, Digital and Analog Synthesizers, Rheem Kee Bass, joining him as a cavalcade of musicians and vocalists taking on the various roles.
With nine different vocalists this is Ayreon levels of performance, the musical setting varying wildly between prog/rock/pomp, keeping the style in the 1970's over 70 minutes. That 70's sound comes from the usage of vintage synths and organs over guitars as neither Adelfidis or George Katsanos, who supply the most instruments, play no guitars. The guests adding drums, pianos and synths. So this is Arjen Lucassen meets Mike Oldfield or Avantasia meets Vangelis whatever takes your fancy.
It's 12 songs, 70 minutes like I said and the varied vocals mean that some can be a bit hit and miss and it is rigidly stuck in the 70's concept era from the music to the production, there's not the diversity that their is on Ayreon or Avantasia. Still musically it's impressive and with the liner notes to follow the story it's a much more immersive experience. 7/10
Caelestia - Infernalia (Self Released)
Athens based extreme death metal band Caelestia release a four track EP that sees them move away from their symphonic past into a more technically aggressive direction. It's their statement to show what they will be as a band going forward. From the opening blasts of To The Elder Elemental Flame, this is band who have become harder, heavier and more complex in their song writing.
Death and black metal combine as tremolo picking and blast beats are the order of the day but No Man's Land still has some of those symphonic beginnings but quickly resorts to being death metal again. That's the issue though I think, moving towards being a more guitar driven band has sort of made them sound a like like a million other bands. They are now a straight up death metal band and while they do it well, I can't help but think it's moved them backwards a little. 6/10
Oathswan - For Those Who Breathe From Darkness (Self-Released)
Oathswan are a Greek band but features members of Mask Of Prospero, Gentihaa and Aetherian. That that sort of calibre amongst their ranks, you can expect this debut EP to be a mix of all of those bands, progressive metalcore with post metal atmospheres as aggression and intensity are joined by ethereal shoegazing and melodies.
Fans of Obscura, Cynic or Atheist will immediately be drawn to the guitar playing but as a true connoisseurs will know it's the bass and drums that make technical/progressive death metal so impressive, so Manos Skoularakos' solo section on a tracks such as Void Alchemy or Binary Orbit or Jim Makrinakis way of leading the frequent shifts on Entwined or Void Alchemy with just inhuman blasting is really where the power lies. George Emmanuel's production skill keeps Crypts Of Mind razor sharp, even giving immense clarity to Alexis Papatheofanous' raging vocals.
As the extremely proggy title track closes out the album, Blasteroid have taken you on a journey of intergalactic travel musical dexterity that will leave you a little breathless but desperate to do it again. 8/10
Forbidden Myth - Zantea Chronicles : The Nightmare Awakens (Hydraulis Records)
The sequel to Zantea Chronicles : The Dream Dominator, The Nightmare Awakens is another huge concept record from musical director Antonis Adelfidis, he wrote the storyline alongside Myrto Gregoriadi, but Antonis is the main composer here. He also plays most of the instruments here: Acoustic Piano, Electric Pianos, Hammond Organ, Combo Organs, Mellotron, Hohner Clavinet, Digital and Analog Synthesizers, Rheem Kee Bass, joining him as a cavalcade of musicians and vocalists taking on the various roles.
With nine different vocalists this is Ayreon levels of performance, the musical setting varying wildly between prog/rock/pomp, keeping the style in the 1970's over 70 minutes. That 70's sound comes from the usage of vintage synths and organs over guitars as neither Adelfidis or George Katsanos, who supply the most instruments, play no guitars. The guests adding drums, pianos and synths. So this is Arjen Lucassen meets Mike Oldfield or Avantasia meets Vangelis whatever takes your fancy.
It's 12 songs, 70 minutes like I said and the varied vocals mean that some can be a bit hit and miss and it is rigidly stuck in the 70's concept era from the music to the production, there's not the diversity that their is on Ayreon or Avantasia. Still musically it's impressive and with the liner notes to follow the story it's a much more immersive experience. 7/10
Caelestia - Infernalia (Self Released)
Athens based extreme death metal band Caelestia release a four track EP that sees them move away from their symphonic past into a more technically aggressive direction. It's their statement to show what they will be as a band going forward. From the opening blasts of To The Elder Elemental Flame, this is band who have become harder, heavier and more complex in their song writing.
Death and black metal combine as tremolo picking and blast beats are the order of the day but No Man's Land still has some of those symphonic beginnings but quickly resorts to being death metal again. That's the issue though I think, moving towards being a more guitar driven band has sort of made them sound a like like a million other bands. They are now a straight up death metal band and while they do it well, I can't help but think it's moved them backwards a little. 6/10
Oathswan - For Those Who Breathe From Darkness (Self-Released)
Oathswan are a Greek band but features members of Mask Of Prospero, Gentihaa and Aetherian. That that sort of calibre amongst their ranks, you can expect this debut EP to be a mix of all of those bands, progressive metalcore with post metal atmospheres as aggression and intensity are joined by ethereal shoegazing and melodies.
Comparisons to Black Crown Initiate and Thy Art Is Murder are very fitting as Oathswan are a cinematic style of progressive deathcore, bludgeoning drums, clean/harsh vocals and breakdowns, all undercut with electronics. A song such as Glass Heart will tell you all you need to know about Oathswan, it's heavy, ominous and brutal but nothing ground breaking. 6/10
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