Varathron – The Crimson Temple
Release Date: 1st December 2023
Label: Agonia Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Black Metal, Folk Metal.
FFO: Primordial, Rotting Christ, Mgla, Septicflesh.
Review By: Carlos Tirado
Greece has an unusual knack for churning out remarkable Blackened Death metal. Whether it’s the historical shadow of the Orthodox church or the challenges of the economy, something fuels the metal scene there. Bands like Septicflesh and Rotting Christ are probably on your radar, but one that’s nearly as ancient is Varathron. Classics like Walpurgisnacht carry that signature raw sound, but their recent two albums hold their ground with an acceptable quality. This puts expectations (the bane of any band) in a good place—maybe not soaringly high, but respectable. So, how does The Crimson Temple fare against Varathron‘s extensive catalog?
In this upcoming release, Varathron draws from a mix of old and new influences. The melodic passages and ideas in The Crimson Temple are clearly inspired by the old Rotting Christ, particularly Theogonia—my personal favorite Rotting Christ album. Unexpectedly, there’s also a noticeable Polish Black Metal influence present in many key riffs (evident in tracks like The Gods of Yore and Swamp King). While the folk elements or Hellenic vibe are not groundbreaking, they are executed well and mark a departure from previous works, like Patriarchs of Evil, where the old school Black Metal sound took center stage.
Yes, there’s an intro, and I usually dislike intro tracks, but Ascension is engaging enough. It doesn’t take long for the biblical myth of Moloch and the practice of child sacrifice to come to mind. The blend of Hellenic background melodies with the cold riffing reminiscent of Mgla or Manbryne makes for an intriguing mix that undeniably works. However, some tracks do tend to overstay their welcome (notably Hegemony of Chaos and Constellation of the Archons). As I mentioned in my recent Primordial review, the sense of epic can wane after too much repetition.
Moving on to aspects that left me less convinced, the production is clean and loud to the point of being somewhat one-dimensional. While the vocals delivered, they didn’t leave a lasting impression. And despite my appreciation for the Polish Black Metal influence, there were moments that felt a bit too familiar, prompting me to scour my personal collection to identify the echoes of previous listens (yes, I can be that obsessive at times!). It’s not outright plagiarism, but the inspiration is unmistakable.
Despite these reservations, The Crimson Temple takes an enjoyable and unconventional approach to an old formula. In a year where breathtaking Black Metal has been somewhat scarce, this album stands out as a fun and engaging ride. While it might not claim the top spot in the genre right now, it certainly earns its place as a noteworthy addition.
(3.5 / 5)
