Reviews: Protean Shield, Embargo, AmongRuins, Obscurus Rex (Reviews By Matt Bladen)

 

Greece has quite a longstanding history with epic heavy metal they absolutely love this style over there, so much so they have their own festival dedicated to it so with bands such as Validor, Manilla Road, The Lord Weird Slough Feg as influences, they are in the same genre as modern acts such as Eternal Champion, Visigoth and Warrior Path and to be honest most of the bands signed to their Greek trad metal label No Remorse Records. 

Protean Shield's self titled debut album tells epic stories of fantasy quests, bloody battles and heroism, a twin axe attack from the two Yannis' roaring like armour clad horses across a scarred landscape, while the rhythm section of Petros (bass) and Odysseas (drums) an artillery barrage from the realms of epic metal. Hailing from Greece there's a lot of history and myth to call upon but Protean Shield expand into the Japanese lore on 47 Ronin, some Edgar Allen Poe on The Pendulum, but of course you can infer what you want from the lyrics. 

They add some orchestration as Lament shifts into the nautically themed 8 minute Mariner’s Dream, the low vocals of singer Harris’ ideal for the more meaty power metal style here, singing rough with touch of Chris Boltendahl or Steve Grimmett. Epic metal from Greece is always welcome so raise the Protean Shield. 7/10

Embargo - High Seas (Self Released)

Having recently opened for Greek stoner rock legends Nightstalker in their native Thessaloniki (like yesterday), Embargo have a lot of similarities to the Dead Rock Commandos. Starting out as an instrumental band, but after they put out their first EP they moved on from the music only sound of Karma To Burn and added some Argy-like reverb drenched vocals. It means that High Seas, their debut full length has all the desert rock psych of Kyuss and the woozy riffs of Monster Magnet. 

Since the EP they have been cut to a trio with Johnny Chrima on guitar/vocals, Harry Nill on bass and Alex Chrima on drums but these three make a racket. With their instrumental beginnings shining through on the beginning instrumental Billow. The first track to introduce vocals is Alanna Finch, I think the first “single” from the record and it’s a mid-paced groover perfect for some slow head banging and shoulder shaking, the vocals are almost spoken at the beginning as the singing comes in on the chorus. A killer track which will lure you into the psych stylings of Embargo before Candy keeps that flow of groove going. 

As 22 22 begins the rhythm is more prominent with a bit of punk noise, their instrumental beginnings displayed on a lot of this album, as the power of the riff is sacrosanct, the vocals coming and going. Music that is inspired by genre leaders Nightstalker, 1000mods and Planet Of Zeus as well as the American originators, High Seas worships the riff, worships the leaf and will have you blissed out in no time. 7/10

Greece has quite a storied history with melodic death metal, bands such as Nightrage, Nightfall and even Septicflesh coming from the fertile musical grounds of Hellas. Add to that list AmongRuins who have been delivering melodeath since 2011 and with this third album Land Of The Black Sun, they look set to break out of their countries scene into he wider world. 

The fusion between melodic and heavy is very well done throughout this 8 song, 38 minute album, the guitar mastery from Thanos and Alex incorporating acoustics (End Of My Fall), lots of clean leads and of course some gutsy riffing, ripped from the Swedish founders of the genre. A track such as Shattered Times would be welcome on any Dark Tranquillity or early In Flames record, mechanical double kicks from Nick, powering the thrashy speed, the precision guitars carving up the riffs nicely as bass and vocals of Sotiris rampage and growl. 

It’s one of the more aggressive offerings followed by Our Destructive Tide which has some CoB-like keys. Treading the line between light (Tear Me Apart/title track) and dark (Wells Of War/Suffer For Credence), Land Of The Black Sun, sees AmongRuins delivering melodic death metal how it’s meant to be played, few frills but lots of thrills. 7/10

Obscurus Rex - Stand Up And Be Counted (Self Released)

Formed by bassist Panos Karabelas in 2021 in Athens, Greece, Obscurus Rex have weathered a few storms to get here, their melting pot of metal genres a result of lots of jamming settling on the line up of singer Manos Xanthakis, guitarist Kimonas Alex and drummer/producer Dimitris Sakkas, though since recording Constantinos Mavroyannis has become the guitarist. 

Built on a positive message they are trying to get their music out there, much of it crossing between classic metal and thrash. The issue is the vocals, which just don’t appeal in anyway, it makes just the four tracks on this EP seem like an eternity. With a different singer I may have given a higher score but I can’t get passed them. Maybe you can. 5/10