Year: 2020
Total Time: 36:36
Label: Redefining Darkness Records
The Greek metal scene is known for its great Black Metal act with bands like ROTTING CHRIST, VARATHRON, NECROMANTIA etc but also has high quality Death Metal bands such as DEAD CONGREGATION, INVERACITY, MASS INFECTION and recently PLAGUE. PLAGUE was formed in Athens in 2011, loving Florida’s Old School Death Metal. In 2014 they have released the EP “Abyssdiver” and this year they have returned with their debut album entitled “Potraits Of Mind”. PLAGUE’ took their time, did not hurry to release an album and the outcome of “Portraits Of Mind” justifies them..
With this release, the band offers us 36 minutes of solid Old School Death Metal, influenced mainly by DEATH (“Leprosy”, “Spiritual Healing” and “Human” eras), MASSACRE and DISMEMBER. The album moves mainly in mid tempo rhythms with some fast outbursts, “muddy” Doomy parts, classic growly vocals (with a connotation that bring to mind Kam Lee of MASSACRE) and guitars. The compositions are mesmerizing, with each one having its own personality.
The band dominates in controlling the flow of the songs as it can moderate the speed, switching between mid-tempo and fast parts, creating with this way an atmosphere of “fear” without sounding like an incorrect change of tone. PLAGUE manage to combine the simplicity of early Death Metal riffs with technic and synthetic skills. The “complicated” and intense guitar solos are excellent (something that is rare in Death Metal albums) and have come out through Chuck Schuldiner’s bible. This does not mean that the PLAGUE is copying copy DEATH (as GRUESOME do). The production of the album brings in mind Florida’s Death Metal act of the early 90’s and the whole package completes the impressive cover by the legendary Paolo Girardi.
“Portraits of Mind” is enjoyable, from the first to the last minute, an album of sinister Old School Death Metal without any experimentation and no fan of this particular sound should pass by. PLAGUE manage to release a very good debut album, which makes me think that is an omen for better things to come in the future.
Rating: 7.5/10
Editor: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: PLAGUE – Facebook Page
