AGATHODAIMON - The Seven (CD)

Rejoining forces after many years of silence, German dark metal frontrunners Agathodaimon set the stage for their long-awaited comeback. AgathodaimonÆs seventh strike maintains the old-school spirit of its predecessor In Darkness (2013), but canÆt be pigeonholed due to its dynamic and widespread musical styles, evoking a gloomy atmosphere fueled by sharp growls, epic clear vocals and a gripping, exceptional sonic universe. Thematically, as hinted by the albumÆs title, the full-length is centered around the momentous and symbolically powerful number seven and the seven deadly sins - sloth, greed, lust, gluttony, pride, wrath, envy - on ten tracks total, all addressed with religious topics that contrast with human beings and its original nature. Diving into this exciting construct with opener ôLa Haineö, the track lures the listener into the freezing, dark world of Agathodaimon, produced by long-time companion Kristian ôKohleö Bonifer (Aborted, Powerwolf, Hõmatom amongst others), by building up a dense wall of thunderous sound, accented by a multifaceted vocal interpretation. Songs like raging ôWolf Withinö and haunting ôIn my Dreamsö roam between dense soundscapes, crushing instrumentals and intense lyricism. ôKyrie / Gloriaö on the other hand stomps more towards heavy doom metal, calling for a black mass with creeping darkness and desperate screams turning into harsh black metal parts, all topped by the guest appearance of Benighted frontman Julien Truchan. Amid the tracklisting there's another special treat for fans lurking with epochal orchestration that paves the war for the remarkable performance of AgathodaimonÆs former vocalist, Romanian Vlad Dracul, on ôMother of all Godsö. ItÆs not only this very first collaboration since 1999, but The Seven as a whole, that showcases that Agathodaimon absolutely acing the balancing act of incorporating their past into a bright and exciting future.