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Greek black metal


halloween

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Well, Septic Flesh has always played death metal of one kind or another, so if we're strictly talking about black metal then Rotting Christ has to win. But why split hairs. They've both recorded a few amazing albums and I've been a fan of both bands for a long time. I don't get into everything SF has done - the overblown drama, the sometimes ridiculous clean vocals, the overpolished sound of their more recent stuff - but they started off strong and they've had more good albums throughout the years. They also reinvented themselves pretty convincingly with their reunion. The debut full-length "Mystic Places Of Dawn" is a phenomenal melodic death-doom album and my top pick of theirs. 

Rotting Christ had a great run in the early to mid 90s. "Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers" became an instant favorite of mine almost 25 years ago and I love it to this day. On the other hand, I was let down by the following couple albums, and I can't seem to connect with any of their more recent stuff. I didn't get much out of their live set either.

I guess I have more respect for Septic Flesh and I think they're objectively a better band, but with a gun to my head I'd have to pick Rotting Christ for the impact their early albums had on me.

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TBH I've never really understood what makes the Hellenic scene distinct from the other scenes, granted I haven't done a ton of digging into bands either. I've never got hooked on neither Septic flesh or Rotting christ, but I do appreciate Sakis Tolis bear-vocals. I think Yoth Iria are quite good though. They released a hell of a debut album this year. Anyone heard it?

 

 

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4 hours ago, Sheol said:

TBH I've never really understood what makes the Hellenic scene distinct from the other scenes, granted I haven't done a ton of digging into bands either. I've never got hooked on neither Septic flesh or Rotting christ, but I do appreciate Sakis Tolis bear-vocals. I think Yoth Iria are quite good though. They released a hell of a debut album this year. Anyone heard it?

 

 

That digging you mentioned? You need to do it.  Very distinct differences from nearly every other BM scene.  In fact it is probably the most niche in the world of BM.  Warm guitar tones that are a lot closer to being born out of heavy metal riffing as opposed to the icy cold tones of Norwegian black metal and although they don't exactly embrace production values on the Greek scene all the time there's a lot less rawness from say a Mayhem or (early) Burzum perspective. Tempos are likely to be mid-paced usually and there's folk elements prevalent which enrich that warm sound.

I liked that Yoth Iria record when I caught it earlier this year - both members are former Rotting Christ alumni.

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18 hours ago, Sheol said:

TBH I've never really understood what makes the Hellenic scene distinct from the other scenes, granted I haven't done a ton of digging into bands either. I've never got hooked on neither Septic flesh or Rotting christ, but I do appreciate Sakis Tolis bear-vocals. I think Yoth Iria are quite good though. They released a hell of a debut album this year. Anyone heard it?

 

 

90's Greek black metal had a pretty distinctive sound. I never got so much into RC or SF or even Varathron, my favorite from the 90's Hellenic scene was always Necromantia.

 

But in recent years there seems to have been a resurgence in Greek black metal. The bands don't all sound exactly the same but in most cases you can still hear some kind of a link back to the classic 90's Hellenic stuff. 

 

Sheol, check out: Katavasia, Kawir, Kvele, Dodsferd, Sørgelig, Serpent Noir, Sad, Acherontas, Akantha, Ravencult, Burial Hordes, Embrace of Thorns, Empire of the Moon...that oughtta get you  started.

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5 hours ago, GoatmasterGeneral said:

Sheol, check out: Katavasia, Kawir, Kvele, Dodsferd, Sørgelig, Serpent Noir, Sad, Acherontas, Akantha, Ravencult, Burial Hordes, Embrace of Thorns, Empire of the Moon...that oughtta get you  started.

Well shit, I forgot that Empire of the Moon and Kawir were Greek. Αδράστεια and Έκλειψις were excellent and on my 2019 AOTY list.

I've heard good things about Macabre Omen too, but they never really grabbed me.

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HAIL SPIRIT NOIR......can't say enough about this great Greek band....they are easily in my top 5 BM bands....

... "Mayhem In Blue" and " Eden In Reverse " get a lot of play on my stereo...more so than "Oi Magoi" and "Pneuma" but when I'm listening to music on a portable player, they all get a run...

...when I first heard HSN, I would've sworn they were French avant garde BM...they just had a French feel to them....

...gotta also agree with WhiteNoise on...

DODSFERD

KAWIR

NECROMANTIA

 

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