After the disband of the legendary Necromantia, due to the sudden death of co-founder Makis “Baron Blood” Kanakaris, George “The Magus” Zacharopoulos did not stay with his hands crossed. The next band of one of the most important musicians in the Greek extreme metal scene is entitled simply after his nickname and the first full-length album is ready, just one year after its foundation.
Joining him in this new effort are two musicians with whom he has worked with in the past, as all three of them were part of both Thou Art Lord and Principality Of Hell. These are Bill “El” Zobolas on guitars and John “Maelstrom” Votsis on drums, with Magus taking over bass and vocal duties. Musicians with a lot of experience and a long career in the scene as well as participations in many bands.
“Vissodomontas” is a fitting title for the album, a word that I’m sure most of us in Greece looked up in an online dictionary to see what it meant. “Building in the depths” is its true meaning, “conspiring in the darkness” is the common use. The album moves primarily along black metal paths, alternating between fast and slow speeds, having some affinities with Necromantia, but I’m not entirely sure since my experience with their music is infinitesimal.
What characterizes this release the most is its great variety, with most of the songs being long in duration since some of them reach up to ten minutes. For example, we have ritualistic keyboards in “Lux Tenebraum: The Illuminating Darkness”. Choir as well as the heartbreaking vocals of Iphigenia “IDVex” Derizioti (ex-1/2 Southern North) in the amazing “Ama Lilith”. Choir also on “The Peacock King”. But the big surprise is “Give The Devil His Due: The Story” which closes the album. Jazz introduction with keyboards and narration, followed by heavy guitars and black vocals in a really unusual and interesting hybrid.
The guests of the album put their own touch to this. Manos Six (Manos Six And The Muddy Devil), King Dude (Book Of Black Earth) and Hel Pyre (Afterblood, W.E.B., Nervosa) on vocals, Iraklis Gialatzides (ex-Swan Christy) on keyboards, Christos Antoniou (Septicflesh, Chaostar) on the choir and the usual suspect George Emmanuel (Lucifer’s Child, ex-Rotting Christ) on production, mixing and mastering which was done at Pentagram Studio in Athens. “Vissodomontas” is a very thoughtful and well-crafted album that deserves the attention of fans of extreme sound and of course those who follow the music of The Magus over the years.
