| Metal Under Greece - Part ILP 1993 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Label: Molon Lave Records | cat#: MLP-LP-010 | ||||
| The last in a "series" of three compilation LPs issued in the early 1990s by the iconic Molon Lave
Records. Mainly focused on Hellenic Black/Death Metal bands signed to the label in question, with
the majority of the tracks also being available on contemporarily released 7" vinyl. Released on white vinyl only. The front sleeve says "Your copy is no___ from 500", but no copies are know to be physically numbered and considering the current price and availability on the 2nd hand market, an actual ltd ed of 500 copies seems unlikely. If you have more info, please get in contact. |
|||||
CONTENT
bold = exclusive track / normal = non-exclusive track / = non-metal
Side A:
- VOID – "Void" (also included on: "In the Beginning There Was…" (7" EP, 1992))
Semi-progressive Thrash Metal with King Diamond-esque vocals. The chorus is definitely the weakest link here, otherwise a more than decent track. Worth mentioning is the relatively ambitious song structuring which allows necessary breathing space for the contrasting riffs sequences and atmospheric passages. - PHLEBOTOMY – "Born to Suffer" (also included on: "Dawn of Grief" (7" EP, 1992))
An earlier incarnation of the more well-known ON THORNS I LAY (as well as a continuation of the even earlier Death/Doom band PARALYSIS), PHLEBOTOMY offers a slab of quintessential-sounding Greek Death/Doom/Gothic Metal – almost as instantly recognizable as the Hellenic Black Metal sound, if you ask me. Bears more than a passing semblance to early SEPTIC FLESH, but not as strong quality-wise. If you enjoy the style though, you’ll probably dig this too. - BESTIAL WRATH – "Procrustian" (also included on: "Passage Through… the Circle" (7" Split EP,
1993))
Probably the only song recorded by CRACEN – an old underground favourite of yours truly – after their change of moniker. Although a bit more polished (and "Greek-sounding") than their 1992 demo "The Legend", still primitive enough to pass as old school Death/Black Metal. Barring perhaps the slightly awkward introductory riff, the boys have developed significantly as song-writers and really manage to immerse the listener in cryptic atmosphere. - LEGION OF DOOM – "Ancient Knowledge" (also included on: "Passage Through… the Circle" (7"
Split EP, 1993))
Yup, this is the B-side of the split with BESTIAL WRATH above. Kind of barbaric yet weird early-1990s Death/Black and a very different affair compared to later LEGION OF DOOM, which gravitates closer to Nordic Black Metal. Actually, this song is quite similar to BESTIAL WRATH – I guess it made sense to pair them together on a split EP.
Side B:
- VORPHALACK – "Obsessed" (also included on: "Under the Sight of Dragon" (7" EP, 1993))
A classic cut from the early days of the Greek Black Metal scene and one of VORPHALACK finest moments. With the Doom-like pacing, warm sound and morbid ambience, this differs substantially from whatever was happening in Scandinavia around the same time. Probably closer to SAMAEL (crossed with MERCYFUL FATE) than something like DARKTHRONE or MAYHEM. Marvelous stuff nonetheless. - SELEFICE – "Nothing but Freedom" (also included on: "Where Is the Heaven" (LP, 1993))
Pretty sure this is identical to the album version, at least it’s the first track on the compilation not culled from a Molon Lave 7"… Anyways, SELEFICE stood out in the Greek environment with their Hard Rock-influenced yet heavy-hitting brand of Death Metal. Luckily, "Nothing but Freedom" stays on the right side of things here and never goes full-on Death ‘N Roll (or Groove for that matter, thank Zeus). - DISHARMONY – "The Gate of Deeper Sleep" (also included on: "The Gate of Deeper Sleep" (7" EP,
1993))
In case you haven’t noticed it so far, many of the Greek Death- and Black Metal acts featured on this compilation had a serious inclination towards conjuring dark and mysterious atmosphere – often by means that differed stylistically from what was going on in the European scene at large, and the Nordics in particular. This doesn’t mean that all Hellenic bands sounded ROTTING CHRIST/VARATHRON/NECROMANTIA. Just listen to DISHARMONY, what-with their incredibly strange sound and skewed riff-transitions. Personally, I can’t get enough of this kind of off-kilter material. Maybe not something for everyone though. - FUNERAL REVOLT – "Consealment of Truth"
This might be the only exclusive track on the compilation, but please correct me if I’m wrong. To my ears, it sounds just slightly different from the version included on the band’s 1993 mini-LP "Burial" (which also happened to not be released by Molon Lave, but Black Power Records). There’s also an identically-titled track on the first FUNERAL REVOLT demo from 1990, but sadly this isn’t available at current. EVIL Death Metal of the older school that scratches that special spot with a few atmospheric curveballs along the way. The hyper-speed orgasmic guitar lead towards the end of the song wraps up this listenable and historically relevant compilation (if not mandatory, considering the dearth of exclusive material) neatly enough.
Reviewed by Johan Pettersson
