(written by Islander)
On March 20th Transcending Obscurity Records will release θελημα (Thelema), the second album by the Greek black metal band Decipher. T.O. introduces the album this way:
Decipher released a sublime album in Arcane Paths to Resurrection, which was steely and composed, enriched with melodic undertones. It was the timeless kind of black metal that was largely inspired by the classic black metal bands and yet didn’t sound too dated. Two years later, the Greeks return with a new opus, elaborating on the music forged on that album, adding better nuance and structure to the songs whilst retaining the sound and appeal.
Allowed better expression, the songs are comparatively longer and have a narrative quality to them without straying too far from the core sound. The riffs are drenched in emotions without being overtly melodic as the music marches ahead resolutely with its steely demeanour. This is the kind of black metal that gets its priorities straight – with the right focus on riffs, feeling, intensity, and passion.
To verify these claims, what we have for you today is the premiere of a lyric video for the album’s second single, a dramatically powerful and harrowing song called “Litany“.
The words of the song are excerpted from “Les Litanies de Satan”, a poem by Charles Baudelaire that was published as part of Les Fleurs du mal. The excerpt appears as a prayer to Satan, an appeal for relief from misery in the context of a renunciation of religion (and Catholicism in particular).
The words come forth in different ways, at first in deep, jagged, and dolorous tones that manifest wretchedness, and later as fervent cries and screams of white-hot fury. (The song features guest vocals by Manos Six.) Much like the vocals, the surrounding music also creates powerful contrasts.
Initially, the guitars slowly writhe and wail, with their agonies punctuated by enormous booming detonations. The guitars also ring like miserable chimes while the drums kick off a furious race and the bass generates feverish throbs.
The melodies weap and moan, piercing in their impressions and anguished in their moods, but as a wheel turns in the video the song becomes a tempest, and the riffing begins to soar and sear like a mortally stricken spirit, or life wildfires run amok.
At the end, the song becomes ethereal and unearthly. It’s an unsettling experience, and one that slowly and eerily fades away, like the expiring of a life lived in pain.
DECIPHER LINEUP:
Kostas Gerochristos (Lucifer’s Child) – Guitars and vocals
Kostas Xatzis – Guitars and backing vocals
Kostas Ragiadakos (Dephosphorous) – Bass
Nodas Chatzopoulos – Drums
The new album features artwork by Artem Grigoryev (Dödsrit, Nightbringer). Transcending Obscurity will release it on CD, vinyl LP, and digital formats, along with a wide range of apparel and other merch. They rightly recommend it for fans of Emperor, Yoth Iria, Bölzer, Lucifer’s Child, Varathron, Necromantia, Ravencult, and Dødsferd.
In addition to useful links, below you’ll also find a stream the first single from the album, “Return To Naught“.
PRE-ORDER:
https://decipherbm.bandcamp.com/album/thelema
http://eu.tometal.com/
http://transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.com/
DECIPHER:
https://www.facebook.com/decipherbandgr
https://www.instagram.com/transcendingobscurity