I have been following Darklon’s progress since their early days and I am genuinely delighted with the band’s development, despite the adversities they have faced over the years. But I am even more pleased because this time, with their new album, they have managed to clearly and completely capture their vision. Without wishing to underestimate their two previous releases—which were very good, Darklon pour their heart and soul into an album that pays tribute to 80s US power metal, which is sorely lacking not only on the domestic scene but, I dare say, on the European scene as a whole… at least on such a compositional level.
There are three main features of “Mind Reaper” that make it one of the best metal albums of the year, and they are worth mentioning because they are exactly those that make the difference. The first, which is obvious from the very first listen, is the guitar storm, as Kostas Krasonis pulls out of his quiver every riff you can imagine, which, however, “tie in” perfectly with the compositions themselves. The second is singer Vasilis Chrepas. We wrote about this in our article previewing the album. We are talking about an exceptional singer who not only became an integral member of the Darklon family but also managed to raise the level of the album with his impressive voice. The third and final important feature is the analog production by Stathis Pavlanti, who gave “Mind Reaper” an old-school vibe that is so lacking in the majority of contemporary releases.
With a flawless studio performance—the rhythm section is incredible—and an excellent set of compositions, “Mind Reaper” is a serious contender for a spot among the best albums of the year. We recommend listening to it several times to discover the depth of the compositions…the quality is clear from the very first listen. All fans of Vicious Rumors, Metal Church, and not only…this is the album for you!
Highlight: The cover art, combined with the lyrical content that focuses on… madness, are two more important points of reference.
