Every once in a while a band comes out and releases something to make you stand up and take notice. I came across Decipher initially in my travels through Greece, where they hail from. I love going to shows and supporting the local more underground bands and they were on a flyer in the bar/club I was at. Later upon my return home, I did some research and they had just released their first EP and I was intrigued. So when the opportunity to review ‘Arcane Paths of Resurrection’, I jumped at the chance. First off I must compliment the band for upping the game on this release.
What you get with Decipher is a cross between Belphegor and Behemoth and maybe with touches of Vader and later-day Necrophobic. So you see my excitement, just a great combination of Death Metal, with a heavy heaping of Black Metal stylings. On top of that, you get some slight Thrash touches cuz damn! Some of the riffing is quite catchy but in a more evil dark sorta way. The production is spot on and besides the bass being a little low in the mix (a pet peeve of mine.) Everything is bright, clear, and loud.
For me, the 2 primary things that caught my attention were the guitars and the riffing. The ear candy of the songwriting and the mood it conveys is spot on. This blackish Death Metal approach fits very well with my #2. The vocals of Kostas Gerochristos. His vocal approach and ability to shift with the nuances of the song structure add a dynamic to the overall presentation. There is one mid-instrumental interlude but at 30 minutes the album packs a welcome punch of harmony and dark ferocity within a compact timeframe. You get your money’s worth with this release. AND, if that wasn’t enough, it is put out through Transcending Obscurity and you know they put a little bit extra on their physical releases.
So, I say to you all, this should be a definite no-brainer of a purchase.
