...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI


..::OPIS::..

Drugi długo wyczekiwany album Yoth Iria.
Majstersztyk i esencja greckiego black metalu!



Blazing Inferno to już druga propozycja w dyskografii Yoth Iria. Pojawiła się z niewielkimi fanfarami, a szkoda, ponieważ są bardzo dobrzy w tym, co robią. Ich marka helleńskiego black metalu znanego z dokonań wczesnego Rotting Christ, Varathron czy Necromantia, z którą dane było mi obcować przy okazji debiutu As The Flames Withers, oczarowała wielu, nawet mnie. A możecie mi wierzyć, że jestem raczej sceptyczny wobec bazowania na twórczości innych i serwowaniu wciąż tej samej, miejscami monotonnej, bądź po prostu nudnej muzyki.

Blazing Inferno w dużej mierze rozpoczyna się tam, gdzie zakończył się jego poprzednik, zarówno pod względem treści muzycznych, jak i wizji lirycznej. Tutaj nie ulega wątpliwości fakt, że Yoth Iria ma słabość do gigantycznych demonicznych postaci przyćmiewających ludzką cywilizację, dążących do zagłady wszelkiego dobra na świecie.

W odświeżająco rzeczowym formacie Grecy prezentują solidny, porywający i satanistyczny triumfalizm, który przeczy stosunkowo niewielkiej długości samych utworów. Z grzmiącą perkusją w In The Tongue Of Birds czy We Call Upon The Elements, porywającymi solówkami w But Fear Not i Mornings Of The Thousand Golds oraz kolekcją klasycznych growli, złowieszczych szeptów i chórów, Yoth Iria tworzy wciągające i bardzo przyjemne kompozycje. Utwory potrafią utrzymać atmosferę i prezencję, nie umniejszając wytwarzających dopaminę zwrotów akcji tremolo i zawodzenia przeciągniętej melodii, jak chociażby tytułowy utwór czy Rites Of Blood And Ice, które spajają całość. Kolorytu płycie dodają delikatne i tylko miejscami folkowe wstawki żywcem wyjęte z kultury Hellady. Może to i wtórne, i takiej muzyki słyszeliśmy już całą masę, ale jeżeli Yoth Iria pójdzie tropem, rytmem i atmosferą zamykającego album We Call Upon The Elements, to ja chętnie sięgnę po ich dzieła w przyszłości.

To black metal, który sprawia, że ja czuję się dobrze, sprzymierzając się z „niosącym światło”. Oczywiście nie w jakiś wyszukany sposób, tylko ze świetnymi riffami, odpowiednią ilością napięcia i niuansów oraz przekonująco masywnymi kompozycjami, które odwracają uwagę od przesadnego momentami i wywołującego skurcze patosu.

Pewnie wielu z czytających tę recenzję się ze mną nie zgodzi, ale jest to po prostu dobre. Tylko dobre, albo aż dobre.

Adam Pilachowski



Highly anticipated second full-length album 'Blazing Inferno' from Hellenic Black Metal cultists YOTH IRIA.

Metal, magic and freedom. Three words to describe Hellenic black metallers YOTH IRIA. Lead by the legendary Jim Mutilator, YOTH IRIA holds nothing back in recreating, reinventing and reigning in the light of the spirits of old. Although modern and exciting in their approach, the darkness YOTH IRIA thrust ahead into the nothingness of modern music, comes from an ancient place. A place untouched by the plagues of conformity and compromise. BLAZING INFERNO offers no pardon but provides you with a visit to the occult spirituality the modern world lacks to offer. Humanity used to be linked with nature and was respectful of the forces we weren’t capable of understanding. YOTH IRIA sends a strong spiritual reminder to all of us, to not ignore the past at the cost of your future.



When Jim Mutilator left Rotting Christ after releasing “Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers” back in 1996 this was a huge cut in the musical development of the band. Gone were the epic, highly melodic but yet super evil and dramatic black metal vibes, and with “A Dead Poem” Sakis and Co went into a totally different direction that polarized the scene. Damn, I still remember how disappointed I was when that album came out and quickly sold it again. Maybe I should give it another spin now after almost 30 years, I actually haven't heard it since then. Okay, but so much for the history and the memories of a super old guy dwelling in his armchair with a cup of bitterness in his hands.

Although Yoth Iria mastermind Jim Mutilator never disappeared from the scene and had some guest appearances in some other bands (I guess the Varathron contributions don't count because they're old stuff which was re-released as compilations) he never was too active in the scene until he founded his new bands Medieval Demon and Yoth Iria. Was the first one (“As The Flame Withers”) pretty rough but melodic, we can find some crucial changes here. First of all the vocalist has changed from almighty The Magus to “He”. But also from the sound, a lot of things have changed. So here we go with the second Yoth Iria album which at least for my hairy ears full of earwax sounds very fresh and un-innovative.

Wait, what? Un-innovative? Yes, you got me right! As I already stated in some other reviews for some Greek bands, they all tend to stay in their own timeline which is mainly the early 90s. And this is where Blazing Inferno might have been written as well. The whole arrangements, all the melodies, the instruments remind so much of this decade which was so groundbreaking for the Greek scene that it rouses so many nostalgic feelings in me that my shriveled black heart might cry if it could.

Jim has written a great epos with the songs and to describe them would take so many lines that you would read this review still tomorrow. But to make it a little bit shorter, Blazing Inferno has so many twists and turns that it is almost unbelievable. From epic melodies that sound as if they were written for the Greek gods on Olympus (The title track or 'Our Father Rode Again His Ride' for instance), some pagan tunes like Varathron also had on their last album (“Rites Of Blood And Ice”) to some fast galloping traditional black metal stuff ('Mornings Of The One Thousand Golds'), classic heavy metal riffs or even clear vocals you can find everything here. And of course, there is a lot of catchiness in the songs like in 'Purgatory Revolution'.

And to this the lyrical topic of the album, namely that Gabriel and Yoth Iria (an angel and a demon) joined their forces to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, matches really well. Much more drama is not possible if you have the destruction of two cities before your inner eye.

Well, Blazing Inferno isn't exactly what Jim did back with Rotting Christ or Varathron in the 90s but with every tune you can feel and hear that he still breathes and lives that spirit. He created a very unique and outstanding album which (for me) is probably the best Greek black metal album for years.

Review by Michael on November 3, 2024.



Greece’s Yoth Iria is the brainchild of one Jim Mutilator, most known for his time in the legendary Rotting Christ and Varathron. As of late, this band has risen to a plateau o’er the scene where only the above-mentioned legends dare. That damn good and quite simply the very best of the Greek crop. Diabolical tales of unholy war, odes to Paganism, and dedications to Satan as relayed through the timeless art of rich, melodic Greek black metal. The Greeks are known for their dramatic and oft theatrical ways of recording BM, as opposed to the rougher-around-the-edges Scandinavian product, and if romantic, legend-spawning black metal is your cup of tea, then Yoth Iria is for you.

Yoth Iria began in 2019, and have thus far released two EPs and one, soon to be two full-length studio LPs - widely-praised and indicative of genius: articulate, melodious, and refined black metal to be taken in solitary under goddess moon and by dancing flames of ritual. Connecting the Ley Lines between what is ritualistic, what is evil, and what is genuinely artistic. And the talent behind the music? Unparalleled. The creative vision preceding their works? Fresh and inspired yet traditional all the same. A gem buried in hallowed soil beneath the mainstream have Yoth Iria been. On November 8, 2024, Yoth Iria will release their highly-anticipated second LP, Blazing Inferno, via Edged Circle Productions.

The time has come… The time for vailing and for bowing down to the majesty of Greek BM in its ultimate form. In Blazing Inferno, Yoth Iria have created a record to be coveted. Up-and-coming Greek black metal bands should study this record and the legends should as well, because the class, the character, and the esteem exuded here are the stuff of legend. The starkly visual titular track evokes images of war-torn Daemons clinched in battle as Gabriel crumbles Sodom and Gomorrah beneath his might. An eternal grudge match set to soul-stirring melodic passages backed by war-drum type rhythmic cadences and haunting atmospheric chants; an epic as the catalyst to the remainder of what is, in my opinion, one of the greatest black metal albums of 2024 alongside Nachtmystium’s “Blight Privilege”, Wuldorgast’s “Cold Light” and Deus Mortem’s “Thanatos”. Rotting Christ-heralding theatrics and rhythm-driven melodies to be taken in during the following track, 'But Fear Not', and as the atmosphere teems with the folkish sound of woodwinds and angelic backing vocalizations, underneath it all an unholy incursion of blast-beats and rolling guitar riffs ensues. A blessed alternation between evenly spaced martial rhythms and up-tempo beats to drive forward this profound as poetry Greek black metal experience.

'Purgatory Revolution' marks the halfway point of our journey. Screaming leads and galloping double-bass currents, fires of unholy war unleashed to an anthem of spiritual revolution! Breaking holy bonds of oppression and tearing through the Heavens as the war rages on… Blazing Inferno closes with 'We Call Upon The Elements' - an homage to Paganism accompanied by a stunning visualizer that portrays a ritualist enthralled by nature and enraptured in the presence of The Great Olde Ones. Spells cast in the name of preservation and in honor of Mother Earth.

Yoth Iria’s presence to once again rekindle ancient fires of remembrance. Forget thee not the ways of olde nor the natural order of our aching world. Black metal for odes and for homages, for harkening and for remembering. Diabolical in nature and as poetic as Shakespeare. Truly one of the finest works to emerge out of the Greek scene in years. Spiritual nourishment that no religion can provide. Experience freedom! The liberation of thought and of spirit. The eternal struggle between light and dark, between good and evil as conveyed through music of ancient proportions. This is Hellenic black metal. This is Yoth Iria… Hail!

Review by Jeger on October 30, 2024.



..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. Blazing Inferno 03:35
2. But Fear Not 04:11
3. In The Tongue Of Birds 05:25
4. Rites Of Blood and Ice 04:55
5. Purgatory Revolution 05:13
6. Mornings of the One Thousand Golds 04:59
7. Our Father Rode Again His Ride 03:55
8. We Call Upon the Elements 04:11



..::OBSADA::..

HE - Vocals
Jim Mutilator - Bass
Nikolas Perlepe - Guitar
Naberius - Guitar
Vasilis Stavrianidis - Drums




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKj7wGtWMwg



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