Conspiracy Of Zero - Athos Arouris (Self Released)
Thessaloniki based band Conspiracy Of Zero play the kind of progressive death metal so often associated with bands such as Opeth, Coroner or anything Dan Swåno is involved with. Blisteringly heavy death metal riffs from Paris Stamatiadis and John Hatziarapis which are driven by repentless blastbeats from George Baltas (also Mother Turtle) as the complex rhythms are built around Vasilis Papantoniou's bass playing.
Their second album Ahthos Arouris opens with One Of The Same Kind, one of the shortest pieces here it's got great lead guitars, that are pure melodeath as it gets this album off to a strong start before Divine Creatures brings more technicality but delivers it in just under 5 minutes, the bass especially good here as Kostas Radounislis' growls evolve into cleaner tones towards the end of it as the clean solos come in with some lush melodies. The real shift in the album comes on We Both Bleed, fans of progressive death metal will recognise some similarities to seminal band Cynic, the song dedicated to Sean Reinert and Sean Malone who are the rhythm section of that band, who both tragically passed away in 2020.
From here the first part of Ahthos Arouris I brings more Middle Eastern jazz, breaking up the heavier styles which returns on Athos Arouris II, the track that is the most similar to Opeth or even Orphaned Land. Unknown Protester keeps the death metal straightforward but it's on I Feel where Conspiracy Of Zero show off across 11 minutes of orchestrally backed progressive music, that comes from the Dan Swåno influence. Athos Arouris is a great progressive death metal album, drawing heavily on it's influences but doing so in their own way. 8/10
Dødsferd - Suicide And The Rest Of Your Kind Will Follow II (Fucking Your Creation Records)
Formed as a one man band by Nikolaos Spanakis aka Wrath (founder of FYC Records) Dødsferd is a raw black metal project that is his mothership, the band he's been in for 20 years. This two track EP is the sequel/follow up to his 2009 album which served as a part 1. Recorded in Crete during 2020 it's a very introspectiv, nihilistic album written and recorded by Wrath in solitude and it is drenched in hatred, self loathing and claustrophobia. The grinding, black metal riffs, raw production and anguished screeched vocals all making for a tough listen for anyone who isn't totally down with this style of music.
At only two tracks they are long building atmospheric explorations that rage at the state of the world, along with Wrath, M. Sarvok has bass solo, lead/acoustic guitars, cello, keys, sax and sound design and N.D has drums. Across two songs; Suicide And The Rest Of Your Kind Will Follow: The Red Lake Of Your Innocence and Servants Of Ego And Filth: The Bastard Sons Of Nature, you are brought kicking and screaming into Dødsferd's world of torment. 7/10
Seer Of The Void - Mantra Monolith (Venerate Industries)
Greek doom band Seer Of The Void have returned to bring more fuzz-laden doom from Athens, like fellow doomsters like Acid Mammoth, Windhand and Monolord, there's lots of sludge elements but there's a much more classic sound to songs such as Electric Father as soaring solos cut through the fuzz and echoed vocals that's all very Electric Wizard.
Continuing where they started on Revenant, Mantra Monolith is where you'd expect them to go as a band, more aggressive at times, groovier and more accessible at others, the pumping rockers such as Seer Of The Void, the rampaging Demon's Hand and more are all driven by some impressive drumming, that Sabbath worship coming back on Hex and Necromancer, this final two very Birmingham but with different vocals.
Mantra Monolith is perfectly serviceable doom metal album from these occult riff slingers. 7/10
Manos Six And The Muddy Devil – Swamp Suicide (Fucking Your Creation Records)
Manos Six And The Muddy Devil are Manos Six (vocals, banjo and percussion) and Stamos Abatis (acoustic bass), recorded/mixed/mastered by George Emmanuel they are an acoustic duo that merge Americana with outlaw country, folk and even black metal. Utilising mainly a banjo (electric/acoustic) and acoustic bass they also incorporate instruments such as music saw, harmonica, some atmospheric keys and lots of electric/slide acoustic guitar from George Emmanuel on Lucifer and Willow Tree.
The album is based around Satan worship and the occult, their own songs merged with traditional tracks such as Ain't No Grave, with gospel choirs and backing vocals on tracks such as Old Time Religion, there's also some moments of spoken word, where some Bible thumping is used to continue this occult theme to the album as the genres meld together on the banks of the bayou (I'm assuming there's a bayou somewhere in Greece?) for a dark mainly acoustic record. 7/10
Thessaloniki based band Conspiracy Of Zero play the kind of progressive death metal so often associated with bands such as Opeth, Coroner or anything Dan Swåno is involved with. Blisteringly heavy death metal riffs from Paris Stamatiadis and John Hatziarapis which are driven by repentless blastbeats from George Baltas (also Mother Turtle) as the complex rhythms are built around Vasilis Papantoniou's bass playing.
Their second album Ahthos Arouris opens with One Of The Same Kind, one of the shortest pieces here it's got great lead guitars, that are pure melodeath as it gets this album off to a strong start before Divine Creatures brings more technicality but delivers it in just under 5 minutes, the bass especially good here as Kostas Radounislis' growls evolve into cleaner tones towards the end of it as the clean solos come in with some lush melodies. The real shift in the album comes on We Both Bleed, fans of progressive death metal will recognise some similarities to seminal band Cynic, the song dedicated to Sean Reinert and Sean Malone who are the rhythm section of that band, who both tragically passed away in 2020.
From here the first part of Ahthos Arouris I brings more Middle Eastern jazz, breaking up the heavier styles which returns on Athos Arouris II, the track that is the most similar to Opeth or even Orphaned Land. Unknown Protester keeps the death metal straightforward but it's on I Feel where Conspiracy Of Zero show off across 11 minutes of orchestrally backed progressive music, that comes from the Dan Swåno influence. Athos Arouris is a great progressive death metal album, drawing heavily on it's influences but doing so in their own way. 8/10
Dødsferd - Suicide And The Rest Of Your Kind Will Follow II (Fucking Your Creation Records)
Formed as a one man band by Nikolaos Spanakis aka Wrath (founder of FYC Records) Dødsferd is a raw black metal project that is his mothership, the band he's been in for 20 years. This two track EP is the sequel/follow up to his 2009 album which served as a part 1. Recorded in Crete during 2020 it's a very introspectiv, nihilistic album written and recorded by Wrath in solitude and it is drenched in hatred, self loathing and claustrophobia. The grinding, black metal riffs, raw production and anguished screeched vocals all making for a tough listen for anyone who isn't totally down with this style of music.
At only two tracks they are long building atmospheric explorations that rage at the state of the world, along with Wrath, M. Sarvok has bass solo, lead/acoustic guitars, cello, keys, sax and sound design and N.D has drums. Across two songs; Suicide And The Rest Of Your Kind Will Follow: The Red Lake Of Your Innocence and Servants Of Ego And Filth: The Bastard Sons Of Nature, you are brought kicking and screaming into Dødsferd's world of torment. 7/10
Seer Of The Void - Mantra Monolith (Venerate Industries)
Greek doom band Seer Of The Void have returned to bring more fuzz-laden doom from Athens, like fellow doomsters like Acid Mammoth, Windhand and Monolord, there's lots of sludge elements but there's a much more classic sound to songs such as Electric Father as soaring solos cut through the fuzz and echoed vocals that's all very Electric Wizard.
Continuing where they started on Revenant, Mantra Monolith is where you'd expect them to go as a band, more aggressive at times, groovier and more accessible at others, the pumping rockers such as Seer Of The Void, the rampaging Demon's Hand and more are all driven by some impressive drumming, that Sabbath worship coming back on Hex and Necromancer, this final two very Birmingham but with different vocals.
Mantra Monolith is perfectly serviceable doom metal album from these occult riff slingers. 7/10
Manos Six And The Muddy Devil – Swamp Suicide (Fucking Your Creation Records)
Manos Six And The Muddy Devil are Manos Six (vocals, banjo and percussion) and Stamos Abatis (acoustic bass), recorded/mixed/mastered by George Emmanuel they are an acoustic duo that merge Americana with outlaw country, folk and even black metal. Utilising mainly a banjo (electric/acoustic) and acoustic bass they also incorporate instruments such as music saw, harmonica, some atmospheric keys and lots of electric/slide acoustic guitar from George Emmanuel on Lucifer and Willow Tree.
The album is based around Satan worship and the occult, their own songs merged with traditional tracks such as Ain't No Grave, with gospel choirs and backing vocals on tracks such as Old Time Religion, there's also some moments of spoken word, where some Bible thumping is used to continue this occult theme to the album as the genres meld together on the banks of the bayou (I'm assuming there's a bayou somewhere in Greece?) for a dark mainly acoustic record. 7/10