Varathron – The Crimson Temple

Written by on 30-11-2023 at 18:55.

In 1993, a monster emerged from the swamp. It turned out to be the Greek black metal beast Varathron. The Crimson Temple is the seventh album by the Greek masters. It should not surprise us that grandmasters themselves are coming to the fore again. Look at bands like Deviser compatriots of Varathron but also at others, Aeternus for example. I readily admit that I have always been a big fan of Greek black metal. The combination of rage, aggression with melody, and melancholy creates a special mix in my humble opinion. I must also be honest and say that Varathron was always a bit lower on the ladder for me of all those Greek grandmasters. The reason? Pretty simple. Mr. Necroabyssious’s vocals don’t always convince me. I sometimes find his phrasing in particular difficult to understand. On the other hand, that is of course one of the charming elements of this band. If you can use the word charming for a black metal vocalist, of course.

With Hegemony Of Chaos, the first single from the new album that will be released via the Polish Agonia Records, which is no small player in the extreme metal landscape, we already got a taste of The Crimson Temple. Wonderfully furious fast black metal with the typical Greek setting and indeed the more typical vocals. This time it immediately grabbed me by the throat. That steaming, pounding central aisle is especially delicious. If you look at the label’s website you will probably find a physical copy that suits you. And so I give you a glimpse of the mystery before the record has even finished playing.

Ascension turns out to be just one intro among a thousand, then you get Hegemony Of Chaos, which I already discussed above. Crypts In The Mist comes rushing in, thundering and rolling angrily. Listen carefully to those synth lines that maintain the menacing atmosphere in the background, that hammer blast, and then those melancholic twin leads. A shout followed by a masterful melody starts Cimmerian Priesthood, one of the best songs on the album. This is the real obscure, dark Varathron as we know it from the old days. Typical Greek guitar lines with well-known pinch harmonics can be heard throughout the album, as well as flashy soloing. With the latter, Immortalis Regnum Diaboli comes rushing in in a somewhat thrashy manner. To The Gods Of Yore, in all its swampy filth, simply drags you back into the swamp. While like an ice-cold cutting wind, Shrouds Of The Miasmic Winds then drops the temperature to an immeasurable freezing point.

The Crimson Temple has become a very tight, melodic, sometimes slightly melancholic, occult black metal record. The gentlemen of Varathron can rightly be proud that after so many years there is still no wear and tear on this Greek machine.

Score:

90/100

Label:

Agonia Records, 2023

Tracklisting:

  1. Ascension
  2. Hegemony Of Chaos
  3. Crypts In The Mist
  4. Cimmerian Priesthood
  5. Sinners Of The Crimson Temple
  6. Immortalis Regnum Diaboli
  7. To The God Of Yore
  8. Shrouds Of The Miasmic Winds
  9. Swamp King
  10. Constellation Of The Archons

Line-up:

  • Haris – Drums
  • Sotiris – Guitar
  • Stafan Necroabyssious – Vocals
  • Stratos Kountouras – Basguitar
  • Achilleas C – Guitar

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