Info
- Band(s): Caixão
- Label(s): Caverna Abismal Records, Nuclear War Now! Productions, Profaner Records
- Release Format(s): 12" vinyl, Cassette, CD
- Release Year: 2025
- Review Date: April 16, 2025
- Author(s): Seth Nekromancer
Portugal, for me, is synonymous with the old Decayed, Filii Nigrantium Infernalium, or the first Moonspell, and what a pleasant surprise it is to find this type of work among so much current metal without spiritual darkness, without malice, and without the nonsense that comes to light these days.
With ‘Harakles / Melgart Caixão’, we are transported to the glorious past of Greek Black Metal of the 90s. The references to Necromantia or Varathron are more than obvious in the music and composition. I think this was created to be an ode to the Greeks; the theme talks about Greek mythology, written and composed by a Portuguese… that is to say: Wonderful!
In the cuts ‘Ceryneian Hind’, ‘Stymphalian Birds’, or ‘Geryon’, these influences can be seen, adding that mysterious voice that resembles a tortuous whisper, which made me smile since one can easily think that Marko Laiho from the ‘Drawing Down the Moon’-era (and session) left his mark here. Another palpable aspect is the musical ability and performance achieved by JG, although I think his strong point is the guitar, since throughout the album he delivers varied riffs with grandiloquent announcements as if preparing for something apotheotic and then surprises with sudden cuts, where he raises or lowers the tempo and embellishes the passages with keyboards and those old resources that Master Hammer displayed in his first works.
The drums are very good, with well-achieved ornaments and chimes in the right place, which gives a free rhythmic cadence to the music, as well as the work of the bass, which luckily was not buried in the recording and has prominence. ‘Girdle of Hippolyta’ showcases all the elements I’ve already mentioned above. This track, in particular, balances speed, slow tempos, mid-tempos, fast tempos, and blast beats.
Honestly, this is beastly! Investigating a little more about the one man Band, I found a video posted on the No Gleaming Light YouTube channel of the album’s second track (‘Hydra of Lerna’), which is an excellent introduction for those beginning the descent down the first step into Hades of the work and the band itself.
This is the tape-released edition by Profaner Records, a label I have a lot of respect for, as I know the ideology and philosophy of the person behind the releases. They always strive to release serious bands that put the dark, gloomy, and cavernous sound of the underground into practice on the old tape format! Another success for everyone involved, a source of pride for the creator of the music, and a pleasure for anyone who listens and seeks out this type of work, with the extensive references throughout the review!
By the way, Caixão means coffin, and yes, this work is like opening an old, forgotten Black Metal tomb!
Nuclear War Now! Productions
- Country: USA
- Style: Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Thrash Metal, Other
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp
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Profaner Records
- Country: Spain
- Style: Death Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Bandcamp
