Mythological Cold Towers
Sphere of Nebaddon (CD) 1995 Sound Riot
That not all doom bands come from rainy and gloomy regions in the world where the sun hardly shines proves this Brazilian based band. Harsh death/doom metal in the style of older Paradise Lost ('Gothic' era) is let loose upon the listener. Both musically and vocally the entire album is unrelenting and unforgiving with a slightly epic touch. Especially the haunting guitars and keyboard add a great deal to the tortured sound. Shamefully, even with the booklet, it is at times hard to follow the grunted lyrics. The for a doom record relatively fast tempo, keeps of the album interesting until the end. Most fans of older Paradise Lost or fans of harsh and unrelenting doom-metal will most certainly love this album but it's not the most original album ever released.	1. In the forgotten melancholic waves of eternal sea 2. Celestial dimensions into silence 3. The vastness of a desolated glory 4. Slaves in the imaginary abyssal line 5. Exotic voluptuousness of a lost feeling of life 6. Golden bells from the eternal frost 7. Mythological cold towers 8. ...Of inexistency 9. A portal to my darkest soul 10. Sphere of nebaddon Approx. 50 minutes
Reviewed by: Aldo Quispel
Remoti Meridiani Hymni (CD) 2000 Somber music
Once again, I've been deceived by my expectations. For the thousand and first time, an excellent doom band swaps its sinister, primitive sounds for an accesible metal sound full of unsophisticated, catchy chorusses that appeal to a 'wider audience'. Something like that they call 'progression'. My ass! I considered Mythological Cold Towers the best Brazilian doom band since their debut album 'Sphere of Nebaddon' from 1995, and they seemed to have no difficulties in combining ultra heavy depression with melancholical tragedy at a pace that even your granny would consider too slow. Five years later, 'Remoti Meridiani Hymni' is the completely deviant follow-up: the tempo is much faster, the vocals are less deep, the atmosphere is more uplifting and the songs have obvious gothic influences (with other words: there are more keyboards). The consequence of this is that the very dark, enchanting atmosphere of the first album disappeared completely and that the unique graveyard sound of Mythological Cold Towers is gone. The only things that didn't change, are the length of the songs, the profound lyrics, the ethnic, pagan atmosphere and the excellent artwork. Those who don't know the band yet, will probably find it a good dark metal album. But the older fans will be deeply disappointed, because all the doom elements that were synonymous for Mythological Cold Towers, are missing. You can order this album from Somber Music, e-mail somber@albnet.com.br.	1. The Lost Tribes Of Amazon - A Glimpse In The Maze Of Forest 2. Glorious Traces Of The Fall Of Tahuantinsuyu 3. Remoti Meridiani Hymni 4. Opulence Of The Signals 5. Colossal Megalithie Monument 6. Contemplating The Brandish Of The Torches 7. Tiwanako - A Gateway To Kalasasaya Approx. 59 minutes
Reviewed by: Kurt de Meulemeester (© Mindview) Translated by Kostas Panagiotou
The Vanished Pantheon (CD) 2005 Somber Music / Firedoom
Mythological Cold Towers used to be one of the big names in South American doom, but that is not the feeling that strikes you when you listen to the band's latest effort. In fact, it's questionable altogether why this album has been released on the Firedoom sublabel of Firebox. The reason for that is that the album is filled with five long tracks of melodic death/black in mostly mid-tempo. 'The Vanished Pantheon' is a hymn to long gone but apparently not forgotten gods, which makes this a pagan album with a twist, as it isn't your usual germanic or slavic heritage that's being extolled. In any case, while there's little doom in here, those gods can be pleased, as this is a very decent album in the genre. Although it's all a bit heavy on the keyboards side, and some of the 'heavy' semi-clean vocals are definately not my cup of tea, the five tracks are well produced and, above all, epic. So, if you don't mind a bit of mainstreamish plodding death/black, this album is well worth checking out. If you're looking for doom, though, look elsewhere.	1. When The Solstice Reaches The Apogee 2. Tula 3. The Shine Of Lemurian Cataclysm 4. Ancestral Solar Emblem 5. The Vanished Pantheon Approx. 49 minutes
Reviewed by: Oscar Strik