(Here we have DGR‘s review of the debut album by the Greek symphonic death metal band Thy Shining Curse, released by ViciSolum Records in mid-February.)

Thy Shining Curse is a project that snuck up on us – the result of many a Bandcamp tumble and record label page scour, mostly to see what projects are doing what these days. Even though their debut album Theurgia has been out for a few months by this point – have to keep the perpetually tardy streak alive – the aura of intentional mystery surrounding the album was enough to grab interest. Mostly curiosity for both what it is as well as who was involved in assembling the machine in the first place.

The group are intentionally keeping things a bit vague, as Thy Shining Curse is a solo project belonging to musician Leonidas Diamantopoulos, while the album credits – courtesy of the label – add vocalist Cezar Moreira and guitarist Gabe Pietrzak as co-conspirators in making the creature that is Theurgia breathe. But to walk that back a little, as just about everyone these days is enjoying their time with the masks-and-robes aesthetic, just what the hell are Thy Shining Curse and Theurgia and why does it seem they are walking among us now? Continue reading »