The band name of this Greek act may be unfamiliar to you but the duo within its ranks are certainly not, comprising Jim Mutilator (ex-Rotting Christ up to 1996) and The Magus (Necromantia and also ex-Rotting Christ). Both are legendary in the Greek scene contributing to genre defining albums back in the 90s as this collaboration sees the duo record a scintillating and exquisite album that captures the spirit of the Hellenic black metal scene, but enhance it with eight songs of ambitious song writing and luxurious grandiosity. With a deft melody opening the album on ‘The Great Hunter’ the songs erupts into life with a cool blasting manoeuvre before smoothly transitioning to melodic black metal as the vocals come in. There is a sublime melody that threads through this song that is wholly immersive and as the atmospheric charging appears via choral vocal backing that is subtly placed.

With a semi-acoustic start ‘Yoth Iria’ follows the opener producing an avant-garde texture that Rotting Christ fans will appreciate. As the intro sequence concludes the song diverts into melodic overtones with a doom like element layered over it. A slight keyboard embellishment is added to the song that has Gothic toning but delivered in a harsh style enriched by the exquisite guitar work. I absolutely loved ‘Hermetic Code’ where that doom like aura is felt on its opening before switching to a dark heavy metal approach, lifted by the beautiful guitar melodies and hooks that are dropped in with similarities to Moonspell.

I must admit I preferred the first half of this album to the second in relative terms but there are no weak tunes, just songs you may prefer or relate to over others as ‘The Mantis’ has an atmospheric start with backing noises and voices leading into a dense drum beat creating a build-up towards the crushing riff that is wielded. There is a symphonic quality too but within the gargantuan choral vocal strains the music has an epic cinematic quality before the abrupt pause and riff change. Again we get Rotting Christ styling from the mid to late 90s where the melodicism of the tune is captured by the riffing and fine lead work. Blasting into life ‘The Red Crown Turns Black’, which has a promo video to it, has a truer sense of black metal in its approach but as it evolves it diverges into the melodic realms this duo does so damn brilliantly.

With an ambience of morosity ‘Unborn, Undead Eternal’ drifts into a hazy riffing style that hints at a progressive slant though the pace is distinctly more rock than black as that dark metal toning is felt again here. Acoustically opened ‘Tyrants’ has a sombre aura where the sequential escalation in tension breaks into a chunky riff and slight melancholy as that Gothic texturing resurfaces. Closing the release is ‘The Luciferian’ where a dense bass riff thrusts forth with the percussive traits. That density has a sense of foreboding as a semi-spoken vocal line ensues creating an eerie moodiness that permeates the song from start to finish. As it develops the song intensifies but produces a slight pagan aura on the melody that follows which is extremely catchy, in its own way.

There is something fascinating and wholly engrossing about Yoth Iria, whether it’s the interweaving melodies or the exquisite fluidity within the tracks, this debut submerges the listener in intense emotion as every song is teeming with passion and beautifying dexterity.

(9/10 Martin Harris)

https://www.facebook.com/yothiriaofficial

https://paganrecords.bandcamp.com/album/as-the-flame-withers