Agathodaimon

Blacken the Angel (Nuclear Blast)
by Paul Lee

Germany has a huge black metal fan base so it’s no surprise that a talented band like Agathodaimon has only recently emerged onto the international scene. If you heard Nuclear Blast’s metal compilation, Gods of Darkness, you may’ve heard Agathodaimon’s splendid mid-paced burner, “Banner of Blasphemy,” from their Century Media-funded demo. I’m happy to report that Blacken The Angel, in its entirety, is an even better and more diverse follow-up.

On Blacken The Angel, this German sextet leans toward the more melodic and atmospheric end of the black metal spectrum. They’re not a far cry from the elegant chaos of Cradle of Filth or the euphony of Thy Serpent. From the first harmonically-inviting strains of the eight-minute opener, “Tristetea Vehementa,” I was drawn into their eerie yet majestic world. They even re-recorded “Banner of Blasphemy” and altered it slightly to make a heavier and crisper version. “Ill of an Imaginary Guilt” and “Die Nact des Unwesens” have a caustic, grinding quality more in the vein of Darkthrone or even Sabbath. These tracks come on the heels of Agathodaimon’s ambitious, 15-minute opus, “Near Dark,” which is like a black metal version of Iron Maiden’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (in complexity, not poetry). It’s separated into five sections and has the grandeur of a major progressive rock song like Rush’s “Hemispheres.”

Add to Agathodaimon’s majestic music the fact that some of their songs are sung in German and Romanian (original singer Vlad is from Romania) and you have one of the most intriguing and thrilling black metal releases of the past year.
(2323 W. El Segundo Blvd. Hawthorne, CA 90250)