Sunburst - Manifesto (Inner Wound Recordings)
With inspiration from Dream Theater, Nevermore and Symphony X, Sunburst are looking to follow up their critically acclaimed debut album Fragments Of Creation with new record Manifesto. At a time of election fever, that title could be quite triggering but, with their sophomore effort Sunburst are setting out the band they want to be now and in the future.
Taking inspiration from their influences but standing on their own collective merit too. As is the case with a lot of Greek bands the members all play in other acts so getting together can be difficult, but they have managed to write the follow up and they’ve matured as a group with complex, heavy arrangements that have no lack of melody or orchestral backing.
A much wider scope to the music then on this second album, something you’d expect as they gel as a band. With The Flood those Symphony X influences are merged with the Kamelot theatricality, the swells of John K’s (Biomechanical) orchestral arrangements, are breath-taking but when joined by the virtuoso guitar playing of Gus Drax, you can hear that Sunburst aren’t happy with just repeating what they have done before.
After such a brilliant intro they need to keep the energy high and the chugging Hollow Lies does just that, distorted and aggressive, it’s full of Dream Theater-isms with Nick Grey’s bass a core part of the rhythm and Kostas’ Milonas’ drumming catching the ear with his off time beats and fills. It’s also the first track where Bob Katsionis’ keys can be heard and it’s also the second of three tracks with John K's orchestral mastery, Samaritan again reminds me of Kamelot, Katsionis making an impression here as well as Vasilis Georgiou's brilliant Roy Khan-like vocals.
This is prog metal infused with emotion and grandiose, compositions such as From The Cradle To The Grave or Nocturne which is the cascading, glorious closer will have any fan of bands I've mentioned in this review salivating. Sunburst have far surpassed their debut with their second release, it will be the strongest Manifesto you'll see this year! 9/10
Moloema - Unpredictable (Sleaszy Rider Srl)
Moloema are a heavy rock band from Greece, featuring Kostas Voulgaris the singer of Northwind and Aris Giannopoulos the drummer of Villagers Of Ioannina City. Moloema though don't sound like either of those bands, there's a bit of groove, some prog and most importantly lot of heavy riffs. In fact they've got a lot of grunge coming through but the psychedelic grunge of bands such as Soundgarden.
Recorded and produced over a long period of time, due to COVID of course, it's now finally seeing the light of day. Chek Giorgos Tasoulas and Padelis Floudas share the guitar duties, trading off electric riffs and melodies, Floudas adding the acoustic guitars and keys as Kostas Zois of V.I.C adding a solo to Arrow. Giorgos Droudes' bass works in conjunction with Aris Giannopoulos' steady, muscular rhythms.
Moloema have an sound that is quite eclectic, whether it's the proggy grunge riffs I mentioned earlier, the gothy post punk meets NWOBHM of A Stray Sober as Persephone adds some driving psychedelic rock. They're really trying to bring as much to their sound as they can, leaning more towards the 90's stoner/alt/grunge scene of the USA a their native Greece (Dance Of Balkans) with this debut. 8/10
Eons Aura - Hybris-Nemesis-Death (Sleaszy Rider Srl)
Another debut album, this time from Greek black/death/doom metal band Eons Aura, again it's a bit of a supergroup featuring guitarist Mike G of Nightfall/Snowblind, ex-Nightfall current Snowblind guitarist Jim Aggelopoulos and two members of Corax B.M. who's album was reviewed here quite recently. Named after an EP by Nightfall it's no surprise that they share a lot of similarities to that legendary Greek band when they were in their earliest form as well as the early 90's Peaceville Three.
The funeral march beckons you into Hybris-Nemesis-Death, building the gothic evil atmosphere ready for The Curse Of The Underdog, to get it started properly with song writing and production methods that directly out of the 90's extreme metal style. The drums are tinny, the guitars really high in the mix and the vocals are squawked and pained, but with all the tremolo picking and blast blast repeat drumming they do have some melodic touches on tracks such as Forest Demon.
Nightfall references throughout, Eons Aura is a must for fans of that period of black/death metal. 7/10
Blynd - Unbeliever (Pitch Black Records)
Unbeliever is the is the fourth album for Cypriot thrashers Blynd. Forming in 2003 they're an experienced group who blast through a heavy side of thrash death groove metal part Machine Head part Kreator, part Rotting Christ. From the chugging Infernal, the first real onslaught is Between Two Worlds where the speed increases, but that groove metal thump is retained, it's aggressive and muscular the songs about Orwell (1984), propaganda, alternative history and the suppression of free speech.
With Primordial Hunter there's yet more RC like repeating grooves, as One Last Dance has some strings in the intro, as Ground Zero features some soprano vocals. Fire In The Sky goes into pit starting pace as death metal comes with some technical guitar riffs. Modern death thrash that expands the sound a bit more than usual. 7/10
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