Year: 2024
Total Time: 25.00
Label: Self-Financed
Lately, new bands, new releases, albums, EPs have been popping up everywhere, musicians who love what they do, do it with passion and usually at a cost (financial and not only). BATHYAL DISTRICT, the heavy metallers from Thessaloniki, releases their first EP “Abyss” at the dawn of 2024, in less than two years since they began their journey. But before we talk about the songs, let’s make a scientific connection between the name of the band and the title of the album, since nothing is left to chance. Bathyal Zone or District is that part of the ocean with a depth of 1,000 to 4,000 meters (google is always our friend). Beyond that depth extends the abyssopelagic zone or simply the abyss (you got it).
In the 25-minute EP, we get an idea what music path the quartet of Giorgos Samaras (guitars), Yiannis Symforidis (guitars), Fotis Tragopoulos (piano, keyboards) and Timos Triflioris (vocals, bass) intends to follow. It starts with the song “Minotaur” which sets the mood for the general doomy atmophere that the album brings out lyrically as its musical line treads in a somewhat depressing progressive manner and is dominated by the very good guitars. Of course, when the harsh vocals enter, a strange contrast is created, especially in the almost epic chorus, which makes the song stand out immediately. The album’s second song, “Seven8” has a feature that is both good and bad. It is very reminiscent of the purely gothic period of PARADISE LOST but also the first period of LAKE OF TEARS. So much so that if you like PL it’s impossible not to love this particular song but on the other hand the similarity is uncanny. Still, being a PL groupie, I loved it. On the other hand, the low tempo “Lost”, although it follows the same doom/goth aesthetic, is clearly differentiated and it seems that compositionally it has moved a few steps further than “Seven8”. Not to mention the awesome guitar solo.
In the penultimate song “Cradle Of Madness” the band changes the style as they try to give a more atmospheric feeling but does not achieve its purpose 100% as the otherwise very good vocals of Triflioris do not keep up with the mood. I have a feeling it would sound much better with melodic, clean vocals. BATHYAL DISTRICT made an impressive finish with “Jack”. The piano dominates the air and the clean vocals are exactly what was needed. As we move forward though the song gains more and more intensity to reach the climax gradually with Triflioris’ special hard rock grit leaving us in awe.
Overall I would say that it is a very promising beginning for BATHYAL DISTRICT, which shows how they want to move but without lacking variety and experimentation. Gradually I guess they will gain more and more of their own identity, musically speaking, since I think they will incorporate elements that we didn’t hear in the limited time of the EP. A comfortable 7 with upward momentum…
Rating: 7 / 10
Editor: Kostas Boudoukos
Related Link: BATHYAL DISTRICT – Official Page
