Decemberance

Originally conceived by core members Yiannis Fillipaios (vocals, drums, sampling – DAYLIGHT MISERY, HEATHENDOM, IMMENSITY, etc.) and Manos Kousourlis (guitars), DECEMBERANCE must count as one of the prime underdogs of the Greek death/doom scene. Since 1997, this Athenian band has cultivated immense and thoroughly composed soundscapes, rooted in classic 1990s death metal (particularly the US variant), classic UK death/doom, traditional doom as well as old-school progressive music à la PINK FLOYD.

Having found a complete lineup, including the aforementioned duo along with Angelos Koukoutsis (guitars), Yiannis Moraitis (bass – HEATENDOM, CHOIR MACABRE, SILENT OATH, etc.) and Georgia “Gogo” Theodorogianni (vocals, keyboards), the band set to work. First released in the traditional cassette format and later on CDr, the first offering from the band, “Decemberance” (1999) was an impressive work of slow, somber and depressive death/doom with a keen sense of melody – occasionally bordering on funeral doom in terms of tempo, but probably too dynamic to count as such! Impressive not least in the sense of its completeness, as this work could just as well be regarded as a proper album based on both the quantity (about half an hour’s length) and of course the quality of the material included. Both the original tape and the CDr version are pretty hard to come by these days, but thankfully a compilation CD was issued in 2018 by the Russia-based Endless Winter label. This CD (which can be found for peanuts) brings together both the debut tape as well as the sophomore demo CDr “Just a Blackclad…” (2001).

Speaking of which, “Just a Blackclad…” was indeed a respectable follow-up to the debut tape which saw the band expand on their core sound. The addition of Nikos Paraskevas on violin helped to broaden the sonic panorama and giving the music a further “gothic” boost. Moreover, “Just a Blackclad…” finds the band experimenting large-scale composition, especially on the monumental title-track, which clocks in at about 20 minutes in length. A mostly successful endeavor that allow the song to properly unfold in its gloomy majesty.

Following the release of their sophomore demo, and with the members’ obligatory military service lurking at the horizon, DECEMBERANCE took a longer break. Fortunately, DECEMBERANCE didn’t suffer the fate of the majority of Greek underground metal bands in similar situation, but eventually got back in action around 2004/2005. The first years were spent in relatively modest fashion in terms of their release schedule, resulting in two promotional items (“Time (Promo 2005)” and “Inside (Promo CD 2008)”. Allegedly, it was also a period of internal instability, with reoccurring member shifts. The promotional work during these years eventually paid off, though. A deal was signed with a Greek label named “I for an I Records & Media” for the release of the band’s debut full-length album – also entitled “Inside” (2009).

An ambitious (almost frighteningly so!) concept work released as a joint CD/DVD package, “Inside” (2009) is far from an easy listen. It is also more experimental than the band’s earlier works, encompassing a vast array of emotions and ambiences that requires from the listener a rigorous attention span. Once again, “Inside” also gave witness to some modifications in the stylistic department, or rather an expansion of it, partly explainable by the fact that founding members Yiannis Fillipaios (vocals, drums) and Manos Kousourlis (guitars) had been joined by a completely new lineup, including Yiannis Aktypis (guitars – ASTRAL DNA, RITUAL OF THE BLACK SUN, WASTEFALL), Yiannis Koulalis (bass – INVERACITY, VULNUS), Alexandros Vlahos (keyboards, sampling) and Frantzeska Metallinou (cello).

Following the release of “Inside”, the band went on to play a row of gigs, including at the “Doom over London” festival in 2011, sharing the stage with doom dignitaries such as ESOTERIC. The fact that the next album didn’t arrive until 2017 might sound perplexing, but given the nature of DECEMBERANCE’s music, it doesn’t really come as a big surprise. Adding to the delay was also a row of internal issues, most important being that founder and original guitarist Manos Kousourlis was forced to leave the band, as he was moving to Germany. At one point, second founding member Yiannis Fillipaios was actually the sole remaining member of the band! Determined to not give up, Yiannis sat down and began working on new material, partly with the assistance of Andreas Karayiannis (guitars, keyboards, sampling), but at the end of the day – the band’s second full-length album, going under the name “Conceiving Hell” was basically a one-man endeavor released with the help of session musicians – and, most importantly, in many ways the band’s magnum opus.

Consisting of four compositions in total, yet with a running time of over 73 minutes, “Conceiving Hell” (2017) channels the entire “story” of DECEMBERANCE into one, coherent whole. It is, much like “Inside”, a massive work – but also more focused and properly dynamic (which perhaps can be explained by the fact that it was conceived (ha…) by a single composer). It wouldn’t be out of place to place “Conceiving Hell” in the upper echelon of Hellenic death/doom metal.

The story doesn’t seem to end here though, as there have been recent signs of activity from the DECEMBERANCE camp. Allegedly, the follow-up to “Conceiving Hell” has already been composed, but remains to be rehearsed and eventually recorded when the situation allows for such activities.

Compilation appearances:
* Rockhard Presents the New Wave of Greek Heavy Metal [CD, Comp: RockHard Greece, 2009]