The Black Metal release for the 1st Half of 2000

Review Score: (10/10)
The word Agathodaimon represents a riddle that means evolution, and this band has evolved since their debut release. They eschewed the excessive death growls, downplayed the keyboard usage, and dirtied the production (probably due to recording in a Romanian studio) for this release. This is the most bass-heavy Black Metal release I've ever heard. The lyrics are in English and Romanian, are written by the Romanian vocalist Vlad, and are inspired by poets like Eminescu, Bacovia, and Minulescu (although Vlad's English occasionally falters). I must admit that Romanian is, bar none, the EVILEST sounding language I've ever heard sung. Being one of the best releases I've heard this year, I already bought my own copy of the cd.

Now, for my DJ's review of the cd, track by track. 1) This battle hymn is sung entirely in Romanian. The pace is slow and march- ready. The vocals consist of perfectly annunciated growls. Read the lyrics as they're sung to feel the full-effect. The song starts low, then gets louder EEE 2) L 3) Gothic intro. Most of the lyrics are Romanian growls, but not as powerful as track 1. This track ranges from clean-vocaled goth to heavy growls. Ee 4) Intro draws from NWOBHM. Vocals progress from clean to growl to screatch. Track is deceptively soft for how heavy it seems. ee 5) The guitars are heavier on this track. There's a lot of Paradise Lost influence, but this is far heavier than any PL song. EE1/2 6) Total goth that isn't ashamed of its metal roots. EE 7) L (expletives aren't printed for this one) 8) Filosofem-era Burzum guitar through much of track. Pretty Black. EE 9) Lyrics reminiscent of E.A. Poe; music rings of King Diamond. EE 10) You've got to love a German/Romanian Black Metal band opening a track w/ an impersonation of a Southern Baptist preacher, then following that w/ unholy Romanian utterings. Very dark mood. EE 11) More of a death metal feel. ee 12) For fans of Agathodaimon's 1st release: death/key heavy. Ee 13) More atmospheric and goth than the 1st version. So catchy it stuck in my head for 16 hours at work. EEE

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