Vamachara

Spirituality is a feature which shows up again and again in broad parts of the Greek black metal scene. "Vamachara" is one of these albums that combine occultism with vehemence and metaphysics with harshness. As always, it is debateable whether the artists found the right balance between these characteristics. "Abraxas", for example, has its own intro and outro with the effect that almost half of the song is lost. Nevertheless, the overall impression does not suffer from overly ritualistic, sensitive or otherwise non-metallic sequences.

"Vamachara" means something like behaving wrong or walking the left hand path. The booklet describes it more poetically - "Vamachara stretches back to the buried past, regressing back when the Female Archetype was worshipped through the Cult of Vama... " and so on. Very interesting, but I have to pay my bills in the here and now. Anyway, the aura of the compositions conveys this meaning very well. All songs are painted in pretty dark colours and no signs of happiness or trust in God appear. The stormy title track sets a good example. The strict whippings of the drums and the crushing guitar leads are the ingredients of a hellish brew which is crowned by the commanding and conjuring voice of the lead singer. This mix triggers an enormous intensity. Moreover, it proves evidence that the dudes have a fine instinct for the typical form of the sub genre they prefer, even though the track ends with a slightly dubious melodic part. However, maybe this is the nub of the problem: Acherontas have very good ideas and they create fascinating scenarios whenever they set their demons free, but they always fear to lose their melodic facet. Of course, there exist many bands that focus on total destruction exclusively. Nevertheless, sometimes I wish "Vamachara" would hold more sequences of unleashed black metal and so it is only logical that my highlight is the furious "Blood Current Illumination" with its great, charismatic vocals.

More or less pure tracks like the aforementioned highlight reveal the great potential of the group. The nearly perfectly flowing guitars set the right frame due to the comparatively warm and almost flawless production and the lead vocalist expresses pain and dedication. Nevertheless, the album suffers from a certain heterogeneity, at least to a certain degree. Or to describe it differently: either one accepts that the band also likes to perform slightly folkloric horror tunes such as "Ohm Krim Kali" or one will struggle with the non-furious side of Acherontas eternally. From my point of view, the album cannot hide its minor flaws, but it scores with individuality and resourceful guitar work. Moreover, it has enough sequences that mirror the emotional attachment of the four musicians with the black underground. Therefore I can recommend it to every genre fan who is interested in bands that add a special flavour to the essential ingredients.

Vamachara is, in my opinion, one of the most significant works of the band, including also the old Stutthof's works. Acherontas has been delivering the goods in this genre for many years, being one of the most promising modern black metal bands of the Greek scene. For me, one of the strengths of the band is that combines melody and atmosphere with the more traditional Black Metal sound, but without sounding cheesy or goofy, unlike some other bands of the scene.

The guitar-based songs here are just winners; after a short atmospheric intro, "Blood Current Illumination" kicks in, with its ultra-catchy riffs. The clean and distorted vocals go along perfectly. In the same vein is "Beyond the Mazeways to Ophidian Gnosis" where the riffs stuck in your head, full of Black Metal adrenaline. Some of the songs in the album have really interesting parts, which give a bit of "progressive" feeling, without losing its dark edge, of course. Examples include the intro but also the outro of "Abraxas" (especially the latter part is a clear winner), plus the ending of "Vamachara" and "Drakonian Womb" (this one has even some Iron Maiden influence!). The title track near the end is really cool, with the combination of guitar riffs, drums and vocals, before expanding into to a melodic guitar solo and fading out. This transition is sure one of the album's highlights! In general, there is always the dark riff to keep your interesting going, and the infernal screams, but also the melody. Keyboards are not used in a very dominant way in this album, unlike say, in "Tat Tvam Asi" (another really good album in its own way).

What really makes this album (and band) interesting though, is the experimentation. The intro and "Ohm Krim Kali" give a ritual feeling, especially the latter with its percussion and mantra-like singing. The openminded metal fans will really enjoy this one. Also, the already mentioned "Abraxas" has some really haunting chanting in the intro. Another significant thing to mention is the cryptic and occult lyrics, about dark spirits & gods (e.g. Kali, Tiamat), and the philosophy of the left-hand path. The band, and especially the frontman, sure know their stuff regarding mythologies and the arcane. Miles ahead of other shallow bands in Black Metal, who have a poseur-like image, just wanting to sound scary.

In general, I really recommend this album. Even though the following album "Amenti" can be considered more interesting regarding the atmosphere and experimentation, I think this one wins regarding the overall writing and catchiness of the compositions. Moreover, if you can, see the band playing live, they have a nice theatrical image and perform very well in general.

Dark, ritualistic art from the nihilist void of Greece's netherworld; not that you'd expect the Greeks to screw up black metal, right? Acherontas comes from the charred remains of Stutthof and they've made quite a name for themselves in the metal underground with their sinister torches of Satan's black flame burning above a moonless gathering of dark souls and chanting robes. "Vamachara" conjures such imagery through its mythical essence of curses, providing concrete proof that Acherontas knows just how to ram the basic idea of black metal head on and reenergize it with excellent songwriting and pristine musicianship of a ghoulish tint. Their efforts during the seven-track escapade stay remarkably consistent and bold, a feat accomplished by only a handful of their counterparts.

Chances are you'll know the ins and outs of "Vamachara" with little effort if black metal reigns in the corridors of your soul. Most of Acherontas' antics are fairly basic, with a lot of tremolo picking, blast beats, shrieks, haunting mid-tempo stuff, and the occasional display of lead guitar all on display here. They emerge from the herd because the riffs and leads are dashingly powerful and atmospheric, and the transitions provided throughout monster songs like "Beyond the Mazeways to Ophidian Gnosis" strike like a cobra's bite. The group's songwriting manages to remain very consistent and mighty, a testament proved quite diligently during the epic "Drakonian Womb" and the various instrumental testaments it gives. Overall, a very dark and baleful offering that has a degree of accessibility to it for the experienced tongues of black metal.

As the album starts, they waste no time engaging the norms of black metal with accurate guile, as the monstrous assault of blackened mayhem that is "Blood Current Illumination" takes the listener on a whirlwind of sheer debauchery. Sometimes the material seems like it could be blending together; it's not that big of a deal, yet there's a noticeable measure of ideas seemingly leeching off one another. Overall though, "Vamachara" offers something sensational in the world of dark art. Granted, there're not doing much to truly progress the soul of black metal, yet Acherontas doesn't attempt to and "Vamachara" was certainly not geared for such a gigantic task. Instead, it acts as a stellar vessel between Acherontas' diabolical intentions and the peaked ability of songwriters dwelling in their devilish prime.

This review was written for: www.Thrashpit.com

This Greek quartet - who have been flying the black metal flag in that part of the world, in one form or another, for the past 15 years - have a reputation for being so introvertedly mystical that they virtually disappear up their own backsides in their search for dark enlightenment. The fact that the project's monicker comes from the name of the mystical river over which Hades used to transport the souls of the dead to the underworld sort of puts their mythological philosophy into perspective - as does the fact that this, their third, album's name is also the Hindu for the 'left hand path'. They - if you can refer to what is basically a one-man project in the plural - also claim to be one of the few bands in the genre who pride themselves on wearing their Seventies influences very much on their sleeves.

Certainly, the 'Opening The Eye Of The Storm' intro wouldn't sound out of place on the soundtrack to a Dennis Wheatley or Vincent Price movie, with all its creepy, scene-setting atmospherics. First track proper, 'Blood Current Illumination' is a seven-and-a-half minute epic which opens with a swirling guitar line and is dominated by spoken, almost poetic vocals, occasionally interspersed with traditional BM growls and screams, underpinned by a brutal wall of death beats, all of which reflect the darkness of the band's approach and their subject matter.

'Abraxas' (most definitely not to be confused with the Carlos Santana classic of 40 years ago) opens with a two-note distorted guitar line over priestlike chanting before melding into a more traditional BM track - and then ending with almost two minutes of Hammer Horror-ish instrumentalisation. The more recognizable BM sound is maintained on the six-minute title track, while 'Ohm Krim Khi' is a very different beast - full of toms, acoustic guitars (and balalaikas), mystical chanting, spirits wailing: the sort of music the ancients made sacrifices to, and not one to be listened to with the lights off - well, at least make sure there's plenty of candles lit!

'Beyond The Mazeways To Ophidian Gnosis' (these guys obviously listen to a lot of Nile) quickly drags us back into the corporeal, with a barrage of blastbeats, banshee-scary guitars and enough guttural growling to fill several average BM albums, a path well-trodden once more with closer 'Draconian Wombs', which actually has quite a rock'n'roll feel to it - albeit played at breakneck speed - and sees the return of the swirling guitar riffs first featured on 'Blood Current...', but suffers from the fact that it could have been cut in half after its first five minutes, as the overlong instrumental outro becomes tedious in the needlessly extreme.

This is a long and intensely dark album, but one with enough layers, twists and surprises to keep the listener interested (if, indeed, some of the tracks are a wee bit over-long).

Originally written for www.uberrock.co.uk

There are several times where the black metal genre redefines itself. Several times that the musical structures combine themselves with eerie atmosphere and the aura of an unspeakable incantation. Vamachara is one of those albums that declare its presence in a powerful and seducing way, drowning you in its black magic trance.

The intro, "Through the Eye of the Storm", perfectly sets the atmosphere for what is about to emerge from your speakers: a sinful rite with an obscure feeling. By the first burst of "Blood Current Illumination", you realize that it is not a typical black metal album. A descending black metal structure is enriched with lyricism and melodies straight from the abyss. "Abraxas" crushes and the chorus enters with thrills, setting the scene for a malicious and melodic riff that drags you back to the 90's. These eerie melodies are the album's trademark, enriching it with a vintage 70's atmosphere. Just imagine the occult groups of the 70's transformed over a strong black metal aura and infected with the songwritting style of the occult madness of Ofermod, Ondskapt, and Nightbringer. Now inject traditional Acherontas musical attitude and you have the ritual atrocity called "Vamachara". Melodic solos and magnificent vocals and chants from the deepest ophidian tomb align with mid-tempo parts that evolve into insane outbursts.

"Ohm Krim Kali" creates an instrumental interlude for the rest of the album. Unlike the indifferent instrumental "fillers", here we enter a maze of majestic tribal pulses, melodies, and chants; great atmosphere with ambiance and a glorious moment of the album. "Beyond the Mazeways to Ophidian Gnosis" and you can feel the crescendo approaching. The riffs are dominating here and the magnificent vocal lines add the rightful scent of an invocation, an invocation leading to the ultimate "Draconian Womb", the last song of the album and the crossroad of all the album's elements. Great riffs meet with melodic slow-paced part while sinful chanting merges with vintage solos and majestic vocals.

As a result, "Vamachara" is not an album to understand easily. Surely you are impressed by the first listen, but there are much more levels to discover every time you drown in its black waters. It's a perfect mix of the old school occult rock masters of the 70's with black metal form and a great sound production, exactly fitting the album's musical structure. "Vamachara" is like an old grimoire, the more you study its elements, the higher you reach.

Acherontas finally peaked out with Theosis, a studied contrast in both turbulent compositional style and eloquent leads and melodies which married well to their occult lyrical inclinations. The Greeks seemed to have carried the Scandinavian influences of their years as Stutthof to a new level of awareness that they infused with their own, personal identity. Frankly, they had been scaling in quality so much with each new record that I fully expected their latest effort Vamachara to be the stuff of instantaneous legend. Sorry to say, that's not quite the case here, as the band seem to have leveled off, but where the album does surpass the sophomore is in its production values, which are far less jumbled than Theosis or Tat Tvam Asi.

Impressive are the ritual invocation vocals to "Opening the Eye of the Storm", Acherontas V.P.9 pouring his all into a ghoulish recital with layered horns, synthesizers and whispers. After this, the band storms forward into the "Blood Current Illumination" tremolos lines glazed in sparser melodic notes while the drums blast away thuggishly below. Clean vocals, soaring and mumbling are sent out into the vortex of rhythms, and all of it feels a lot more polished than Theosis, if not one iota shallower in composition. "Abraxas" follows with brazen walls of crashing chords against an empty backdrop, before its own alchemical conversion to thunder; while "Vamachara" itself is a pretty straight Scandinavian styled blast-off similar to Marduk, Dark Funeral or Emperor. Far more interesting, though, are the tracks "Ohm Krim Kali", which is all exotic mysticism given flesh by ominous prayers, rampant percussion and strings that make the listener feel as if he or she is in some sorcerous bazaar; or "Drakonian Womb", the 11+ minute finale which has a lot more variation than the earlier pieces.

Sadly, the more fascinating tail end of Vamachara lends it a certain lopsidedness. Most of the earlier metallic tracks are pretty much par for the course, with uninteresting blast sequences and not a lot of memorable notation outside of the few gleaming melodies coming to the fore. The vocals seem disjointed and confused, even though there are periods on the album in which Acherontas himself excels...like the opener. In summation, it feels like a giant, ritual mess that wants to be so more much than its rather average black metal trappings will allow it for, and the fact that the musicians are obviously very capable doesn't really work out in its favor. The previous album also had of confusion and distraction in its mix, but somehow that seemed to work in its favor, where I spent most of the time in Vamachara waiting for something to stick. It's certainly a competent effort (Acherontas have yet to release a bad album), but it's not yet the masterwork this outfit is surely capable of scribing.

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com