Greek war helmet-obsessed black metallers Archemoron fire up a melting pot that blends the finest of the grandiose Hellenic tradition with elements the far flung reaches of the extreme metal universe. Dropping in death, thrash and straight down the line heavy metal. This is not black metal as you may know it – although some of it may sound very familiar. At times the result is a metallic ore worthy of the finest blades. Throw in bits of Bathory, Rotting Christ, Behemoth, Immortal and even Exodus – and add a few steroids. Who could resist that? Well not me, would be my initial reaction. Although, as with every newly forged blade, its true test is on the unforgiving and terrible plains of my living room speakers with a blood soaked broadsword wedged into the ‘repeat play’ button. (Or maybe it’s just strawberry jam on the butter knife…).
If Sulphur and Fire is anything, it is an impressive display of so many shadows of metal history brought together with martial precision and kettle drums thundering. Stylistically it’s rooted in black metal while cultivating a cleaner and more heavily muscled version than even many in the Greek scene have so far managed. In the hour long struggle for supremacy the buzzing black metal only just manages to maintain its grip in the controlled, violent surge of killing riffs and solos that seem to soar in celebration of life and death.
It’s all generally done with the kind of merciless and powerful execution that deserves admiration and those hammering riffs are pretty stunning – providing the backbone to Archemoron’s sound and shining with a blackened chrome glint. It’s almost like a black metal band has raided the armoury of death metal and emerged a technically proficient but grim killing machine. Plenty of musical substance and with an abundance of blood and guts to hold it all together. The sound swings headlong into sweeping thrash and chaotic Evangelion-style blackened death metal landslides at the drop of a short sword and the rasping odes of vocalist Aristomenes and his crew sound at times like they’re sung with voices calcified by time and sent travelling down the ages.
This is the band’s second full-length – with plans to remaster and rerelease 2011’s Spiritual Transcendence. Opener Across The Seven Seas of My Soul blasts its way rampaging out of the speakers while Preacher of Heaven, Maggots of Earth almost manages to out-Behemoth Behemoth. You may find yourself, like me, at times distracted by the ghostly shadows of some of your favourite bands. But this is not a warrior who’s turned up after the battle has been fought only to return home with his shield still shiny and new. The battle may be well underway but Archemoron has arrived with its battering ram to incite the violence anew.
By the time the extended finale Lacerate The Mind comes on with its blackened thrash you can’t shake the feeling that you’ve just experienced a band that have joined the ranks as a future hero with the aim of hurling its javelin just that little bit further than anyone else, breaking through to turn the tide and being first to the spoils. The track storms through the battle lines with increasing vigour before turning for a sorrowful salute in the form of criss-crossing guitar solos that eventually fade out into the edges of time. Powerful and impressive stuff.
(8.5/10 Reverend Darkstanley)
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