The Magus – Βυσσοδομώντας
Year: 2023 Total Time: 55.43
Label: Circle Music
If a good beginning makes a good ending, then September made an impressive entrance for me since I had the pleasure to attend the pre-listening of the first album of the THE MAGUS, the new project of George Zaharopoulos (or “The Magus”). The official release date was the 31st of October and the presale has already begun earlier. Believe me, every Black metal fan should buy this album!
If you have already read our review of the pre-listening event you should know that this is a concept album with Lucifer as the main character, who is pissed off with humanity and wants to destroy and rebuild it. In the 8+1 songs (the +1 is the Lucifer’s manifesto called “This Is My Church”) we clearly see the reason The Magus wanted to create this project, following his own path and presenting us exactly what he had in his mind, which is more than a simple Black Metal album. It is a multi-instrument album, with the aesthetics of a horror movie, influenced by different metal subgenres. Zaharopoulos’ view about live shows is known to those who know him. However, listening to this album makes me imagine how great it would be to be heard live in a proper venue, with a ritualistic and mysterious atmosphere, the appropriate stage setting and special effects….the audience would feel like watching a theatrical story or a movie, being a part of it…
After Lucifer’s manifest, the song “The Fall Of Men” describes the central idea of the album, the fall of humanity and it is totally ravaging with gripping choirs. Next in line is “Lux Tenebrarum”, the first single from the album and one of the catchiest songs with an amazing melodic introduction, the drums entering gradually and a “phantom of the opera” feeling throughout the song. “Βυσσοδομώντας” is one of the most ominous and doomy songs with beautiful chorus vocals, changes in the rhythm and even hymns in Greek. It is one of the most complicated songs of the album. “Idolatrous Discord” has some awesome guitar solos and “Ama Lilith” is dedicated to the female force of nature which is the strongest since it can destroy and revive. That’s why we mostly listen to Hel Pyre (NERVOSA, W.E.B.) and IDVex (1/2 SOUTHERN NORTH) in vocals. The Magus characterized this song as half Black Metal – half ritual. Its most beautiful characteristic is the traditional music instruments. Amazing…The next song, “Negative Renaissance” left me with a sense of agony and fear which was gradually enhanced. Its theme is about death and revival, a duet that is prevalent in the whole album. The eight song is “The Peacock King” that carries an epic dimension mostly due to the choir. Last but not least, is one of the best songs of the album (if not the best), the almost 10-minute “Give The Devil His Due: The Story”. The fans of NECROMANTIA, this legendary band of The Magus and the late Baron Blood, would know the instrumental “Give The Devil His Due” from their farewell album “To The Depths We Descend…”. Now is the time to learn the story behind this song. We travel mentally to a bar in New Orleans where a piano is playing and people talk in the background. The song could be characterized as Blues Black Metal and is skyrocketed by the voice od King Dude (Nick Cavish voice as The Magus mentioned) and Manos Six. If someone asked me which song would be mentioned after 10-15 years from this album I would say that this would be it. It is one of the most unique metal songs you could listen.
I have a feeling that this will be one of the best Greek metal albums of the year. It is not an easy album since it needs many repeats in order to establish an opinion. I am sure that if I rewrite this review in 2-3 months after listening the album a couple of dozen times more, I would write different things. Zaharopoulos, with the aid of Bill Zobolas, Giannis Votsis and George Emmanuel (who made the production) became insanely creative, used his imagination and worked with no restrains and distractions. He moved outside the Black Metal strict lines, offering us an amazing horror music story.
Rating: 8,5/10
Editor: Kostas Boudoukos
Related Link: THE MAGUS – Official Page
