Year: 2019
Total Time: 45:30
Label: Hells Headbangers Records

SYNTELEIA is a Greek Black Metal band which with the excellent demo “Astral Blasphemies” in 2016 and their live performances created a strong name in underground circles. So, when they announced that they signed with Hells Headbangers Records and they will release their debut album ‘Ending of the Unknown Path’ delighted me and I was looking forward to hearing it.

The patience is over and finally it’s time to listen to their awesome debut album. “Ending Of The Unknown Path” begins with “Daemonica Infenralium” which grabs you directly from the neck and leads to a magical journey in the sound and scene that influenced and still affects several bands worldwide, the Hellenic Black Metal. The album continues with “Dark Summoner of Yoga-Sothoth” and then “Mission of Sorrow” both from the band’s demo have been re-recorded to be included in the album. I think that this was a very wise choice of SYNTELEIA to do, as they are both very good songs and their quality is now highlighted with the better production compared to the demo versions.

In songs “Ithaqua, Thy Mighty Storm”, and “The Black Goat Rites” female vocals from Mina Morfi (we know her from her participation in the band HORRIFIED) are added and the atmosphere is now enchanting with her wonderful voice.  The album has a big variety of ideas, and its not following the same paths as other similar releases as we find melodies and parts influenced by the Scandinavian Death/Black scene as well as some death/doom elements. The album throughout its duration has a dark cold old school atmosphere because of the great production. The mixing and mastering were done by Achilles Kalantzis of VARATHRON. As far as the lyrical theme of the album, SYNTELEIA deals with the mythology of Cthulgu from H.P.Lovercraft, who we all love.

With “Ending of the Unknown Path” SYNTELEIA offer us a very good Hellenic Black Metal record without retro or other band rip off elements. They play the music they like and love with respect to their roots and influences adding their personal touch and identity to the songs. The band creates and does not just repeat what we have heard in the 90s from ROTTING CHRIST, VARATHRON,NECROMANTIA etc. One of the best releases of the year.

Rating: 7,5/10

Nikos Manousis

Related Link: SYNTELEIA – Facebook Page