...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI.



..::OPIS::..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_UTfdht5ss



With a sound characterized by epic atmospheres, progressive immersion and an old-school diehardness, "The Crimson Temple" marks the seventh installment from Greek trailblazers VARATHRON, known to be amongst the pioneers of the Hellenic Black Metal genre. The band's iconic vocalist Stefan Necroabyssious, who's been at VARATHRON's helm for the last 35 years, and whose "lust for unholy creations" has only ever gotten bigger and better, reflects, that "The Crimson Temple" has seen the band commit its unyielding devotion and uncompromising passion to every fine detail; from the album's meticulous production, mixing and mastering at Achilleas Kalantzis's Suncord Audiolab, to its rich visual side, designed and painted by Paolo Girardi.

"The album consists of 10 tracks in an epic, 46 minute ride into the depths of our deranged vision," comments band's leader Stefan. "As always, we shall never forget to express our eternal gratitude for your overwhelming support all these years. We are most eager to share everything with you!"

The opus arrives five years after "Patriarchs Of Evil"; a refreshing effort, which took many of the 2018's best-of hard rock & metal lists by storm, set the anticipation for "The Crimson Temple", and found VARATHRON's creative potential and musical zest on par with 1988 - the year it had all began. The band's line-up remains unchanged with Stefan Necroabyssious on vocals, Achilleas C on guitars & keyboards, Sotiris on guitars, Stratos on bass and Haris on drums.



Varathron needs very little introduction, one of the big three of Hellenic black metal alongside Rotting Christ and the late great Necromantia. The band’s story is well known, and for over 30 years, frontman Stefan Necroabyssious has kept this cult going strong. Near the end of 2023, the band will unleash their seventh opus 'The Crimson Temple', and with this, they continue to prove their standing and secure their legacy in the pantheon of Greek metal forevermore.

If you know Varathron, then you know what to expect of their brand of Hellenic black metal greatness. Triumphant riffing, epic atmospheres, melodies that evoke the classicism of the great Greek composers, and a strong reverence for the likes of Iron Maiden, Manowar, as well the great progressive and psychedelic Greek bands. On that note, this record is the band’s most epic and progressive yet. The melodies and use of keyboards and Gregorian styled choirs give the album that distinct Greek vibe and sound, but it also pushes the album into grandiose lengths, all the while the band still sound as dark and gritty as they did in 1993, albeit with a production that enriches and empowers their music.

While Necroabyssious is still the main man in the band, with his distinct demonic sermon like growls, a lot of praise has to be given to his bandmates and their longest running contributors guitarist and keyboardist Achilleas C. (who also produced the record) and the brothers guitarist Sotiris and drummer Haris, and alongside bassist since 2012, Stratos Kountouras. This lineup is as important to the band as Necroabyssious and this is the lineup responsible for the band’s best period since the early 90’s, and 'The Crimson Temple', alongside their 2018 masterpiece 'Patriarchs of Evil, can easily stand alongside the monuments that are 'His Majesty at the Swamp' and 'Walpurgisnacht'.

And speaking of the band’s lineup, to say their individual skills on their instruments are excellent would be to undersell them, so instead I’ll talk about what may be the album’s most striking moments, their use of traditional Hellenic instruments and elements. The intro track ‘Ascension’ is a very good first teaser of the album’s folk instrumentation, but then the band surprise you with the strings on ‘Hegemony of Chaos’ and later on the instrumental folk breakdowns on ‘Immortalis Regnum Diaboli’ and ‘To the Gods of Yore’ which are maddeningly danceable and catchy without betraying the band’s heaviness and darkness. The second to last track ‘Swamp King’ does that same folk breakdown but, instead of being danceable it sound mystical and contemplative. All that to say that the band masterfully incorporated traditional Hellenic music into their black metal, and do so seamlessly and perfectly in line with the rest of the music, and the track where all of it comes together in a glorious conclusion with more atmospheric flourishes is the closing track ‘Constellation of the Archons’, a seven and a half minute masterpiece of a song that perfectly encapsulates all of the album’s best moments, their folkish instrumentation, the classic metal riffing and solos, the arcane atmospheres and progressive leanings.

By the way, if all those eclectic elements sound a bit far fetched, the band still manage to have classic Hellenic black metal the way they do best and without bells and whistles to satisfy anyone in the black metal underground, so there’s no need to fret as the band expertly covered all their bases. And as such, there’s very little to nothing to complain here, Varathron are simply one of a kind, and are one of the very few bands that can take black metal and make it widescreen and don’t fail in the process.

TheSlayFer



..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. Ascension 01:50
2. Hegemony of Chaos 06:12
3. Crypts in the Mist 03:49
4. Cimmerian Priesthood 05:19
5. Sinners of the Crimson Temple 04:29
6. Immortalis Regnum Diaboli 03:52
7. To the Gods of Yore 05:04
8. Shrouds of the Miasmic Winds 04:48
9. Swamp King 03:53
10. Constellation of the Archons 07:34



..::OBSADA::..

Stefan Necroabyssious - Vocals
Achilleas C. - Guitars, Keyboards
Haris - Drums
Sotiris - Guitars
Stratos Kountouras - Bass




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ice_7QlnYzk



SEED 14:30-23:00.
POLECAM!!!