Decemberance
Just a blacklad (Demo) 2000 No Label
Clarity and simplicity are the key words here, both musically and lyrically. This Greek band utilises a good combination of growls throughout the entire demo to create some astoundingly good death/doom. 'Just a blacklad' is the second demo this band has released, the first being entitled 'Decembrance', released in 1998. I caught up with Angelos Koukoutsis and asked a few questions about their second demo. Although the band admittedly hates pigeon-holing their music, at a push they would describe themselves as an "atmospheric-doom-death" act which tries to "combine lyrics, music and feeling" whilst "trying to express a deeper melancholy without getting to be miserable...". In short, they see their music as a guide of emotions, despite the fact it verges on being a cliché. When asked about their own musical influences, I was presented with a more or less inexhaustive list, ranging from poets and writers to musicians, with some heavy-duty doom acts such as MDB, Candlemass, Decomposed, Saturnus, Opeth, Emperium and The Gathering's earlier albums being mentioned. To the question "Do you feel these influences come out in your music?", I received the curt reply, "that's why influences exist....but we believe we have our own character. Each note we play comes from our soul and it was born there." Upon being asked whether he had anything more to add, Angelos Koukoutsis promptly replied "stay doom forever". I think that sums it up nicely. The band features and interesting and varied line-up, including instruments such as flute, violin, cello and keyboard. The foundations of the band are as follows: Yiannis Filippaios - Drums, vocals, Manolis Kousourlis on Guitar, Angelos Koukoutsis also on Guitar, and Yiannis Moraitis on Bass Unfortunately, the band doesn't yet have a homepage but are working on it as we speak. If this review has peaked your interest however, you could look out for Angelos on the Undernet #doom-metal or email him at decemberance@hotmail.com and ask for audio samples. Alternatively, order a copy of either demo from Yiannis Filippaios at: Dimokritou 24, 144-51, Metamorfosi, Athens, Greece.	1. Just a blacklad figure 2. Nunquam 3. Of decay and sadness Approx. 48 minutes
Reviewed by: Keti Tano
Time (Demo) 2005 No Label
The new 17-minute long, 1 song promo CD of these Greek doomsters is great. After some line-up changes and a long period of silence the band returned, delivering a piece of fine doom/death metal. 'Time' is nothing but a fully inspired 17-minute song. It is clear that the musical base is doom/death metal, but the point is that the band is influenced by so many different musical genres and has managed to mix all of them into the harmonic, dark and strange result of this song. From doom/death metal moments, to some progressive breaks, and from some frosty black metal musical parts back to the melodic clean themes that every atmospheric metal band will be jealous of. We can also hear many different vocals types (only in extreme death/black forms). Another strong feature is that the band creates ideal and strange atmospheres using keyboards and samplers; atmospheres that fit perfectly in their musical background. The song lasts for almost 17 minutes but its structure has been built so carefully that you will hardly understand how this amount of time has passed when the song is finished. The ghost of sweet musical bitterness is wandering around this song making an ideal tune for those strange gloomy moments that everyone of us has from time to time. I hope that their forthcoming album will be the same high quality. This promo CD is definitely proof that the band is capable of creating perfect music. Contact: agoped(at)mail(dot)gr	1. Time Approx. 17 minutes
Reviewed by: CountRaven