black metal
|
|
When someone mentions the term 'Hellenic black metal', many people will immediately think about bands like Rotting Christ or Varathron. Those bans were the first that came to mind when I watched Meneapneontes' facebook page prior to listening to the album. After listening, the names are still present and I guess I can now add this project to the list of awesome bands from Greece. Sometimes it's good to get exactly what you expect, no?
I can't find a lot of information about Meneapneontes. I know it's a duo, named Takis and Vasilis, aided by some session musicians. I have no idea if they play live and as far as I've seen this is a debut album. But what a debut it has become. Epic, melodic and fierce black metal in perfect Greek tradition and loaded with mythology. Inspiration is gathered from the rich history of the motherland, including its ancestors and gods.
Musically, you can indeed compare Meneapneontes to bands like Rotting Christ and Varathron but I'm also reminded of acts like Ancient Rites or Bal-Sagoth. This is high standard black metal with a decent share of melody and atmosphere. On other occasions, Meneapneontes truly likes speed, intensity and aggression, resulting in punishing passages of epic black metal.
There's also quite a nice amount of experimental dark ambient and dark folk in some of the songs, naturally adding a lot of atmosphere to the whole. These passages are stunning, intensely dark and quite haunting, perfectly fitting in with the rest of the music. Highlights on this album are the brilliant 'Sons Of The Greeks' and the powerful 'Eleley'. But I can definitely recommend this album for anyone like his black metal epic, melodic and with a huge sense of victory.
Serge
I can't find a lot of information about Meneapneontes. I know it's a duo, named Takis and Vasilis, aided by some session musicians. I have no idea if they play live and as far as I've seen this is a debut album. But what a debut it has become. Epic, melodic and fierce black metal in perfect Greek tradition and loaded with mythology. Inspiration is gathered from the rich history of the motherland, including its ancestors and gods.
Musically, you can indeed compare Meneapneontes to bands like Rotting Christ and Varathron but I'm also reminded of acts like Ancient Rites or Bal-Sagoth. This is high standard black metal with a decent share of melody and atmosphere. On other occasions, Meneapneontes truly likes speed, intensity and aggression, resulting in punishing passages of epic black metal.
There's also quite a nice amount of experimental dark ambient and dark folk in some of the songs, naturally adding a lot of atmosphere to the whole. These passages are stunning, intensely dark and quite haunting, perfectly fitting in with the rest of the music. Highlights on this album are the brilliant 'Sons Of The Greeks' and the powerful 'Eleley'. But I can definitely recommend this album for anyone like his black metal epic, melodic and with a huge sense of victory.
Serge