Black Metal History Month- ΑΧΕΡΟΝΤΑΣ (Acherontas) : "The Seven Tongues of ΔΑΗΜΩΝ"

 Scandinavia and Norther Europe are not the only places with the right energy for black metal, solid black metal has come from France, America and Greece. Infact this Greek black metal band who for reasons unknown changed their name have been at it since 1996.  They pick up where they typically leave off with a big yet feral pounding of blasts, though it is one of the most well-done examples of this kind of attack. They do not settle on that sound and then just drone you to death for the rest of the album as the second song has varied tempos, and layers. The ritualistic tone is very left-hand path, peppered with varied mystery schools. Easch song serving as its own rite to one of the infernal lords, or gates if you want to see it in the symbolic nature. 

"Belial" has a chanted style of singing that is almost operatic in nature not unlike Urfaust. In the metal sense unlike their Greek country men, they use and attack not unlike Watain's bigger and more dramatic moments. They also have a great deal of hooky riffs in here. You do not have to be down with this ritual to band your head to it, though it would be a lot cooler I you. They recorded this album in their own chambers, which is impressive as this album sounds great, it was mixed and masted in an actual studio which I have sure factored in. The "Satan" part of the ritual is more classic metal, almost Judas Priest in the twin guitar harmonies. That is however before the more dissonant throb of guitar kicks in. Some of these passages even going down the path Dissection paved. 

Things get darker for "Chronozon" though sonically it falls closer in line with more traditional black metal even with the nuanced guitar lines. The final minutes of the song find it creeping out from under a breakdown that is eerie. The sitr of a din of blast feeling riffs to climax out of it. "Hecate" opens with some synths giving breathing room for the up-tempo tremolo to come. In terms of its epic scope, it feels more in line with say Immortal. It does lock into a more classic metal sounding riff after accelerating to the end. "Drakon" begins the close of the album with a droning ambiance. It mainly simmers on the atmosphere. I will give this album a 9, it might be their best so far, though leans more into some Swedish sounds than expected, respect the overall tone they are going for here and think they accomplished what they were going for.