W.E.B.
For Bidens

[colored_box color=”grey”]Rating: 9
Label: No Regrets Records
Website: Link
Author: John Savvidis[/colored_box]

Their new album “For Bidens” kicks in with the intro “Let There Be Night” before the made-for-live-shows track “Nightmares In Disguise” comes with its amazing chorus and top notch riffing reminiscent of Paradise Losts’ most rocking moments including industrial elements before the final chorus. The title track comes next with a beautiful lead melody before speeding up and Thrashing right before the great blasting chorus reminding me of Dimmu Borgir with a few Death metal elements. Great headbanging riffage in more industrial mode leads us to “God Plays Dead” where the electro/EBM elements come up front a bit more. “Eligos” comes blasting and thrashing in a blackened way, reminding me even a bit of Mayhem and Rotting Christ, including an epic chant of the song title over pure Black metal riffing and some groovy moments. One of the most aggressive tracks on the album. Next we have an oriental interlude called “Crimson Dawn” using cello and violin as well as baglamas if I’m not mistaken. Just a small intro for…

“The Prince Of 1000 Frozen Suns” starting off in a majestic way then blasting inbetween before turning into a mideastern chorus reminding me of old school Hellenic Black metal (Varathron, Necromantia etc) carrying on the mid-eastern atmosphere throughout the song along with more blastbeats ending in a way that reminds me of Cradle Of Filth followed by a baglamas’ outro solo. The following track “Malaise” has more of a melodic Death metal feel in its riffing as well as female vocals by Christianna Hatzimihali (Elysion) consisting mostly of breakdowns and groovy riffs. Heavy riffage brings us to “Night Funeral” and its eerie atmosphere with winds blowing keeping up that way until the end where we have a trade-off between blastbeats and groovy moments. Then time for the final album epic (based on the poem “Thanasis Vayas (The Vampire)” by Alexander Valaoritis) broken in 3 pieces: First one is “Clamor Luna Part I – Clamor Rex” starting as a beautiful atmospheric track with acoustic guitars and cello. Then the bells ring for the second and longest one: “Clamor Luna Part II – Regima Est” starting with excerpt from the poem being read creating an eerie atmosphere with many non-metal instruments before the band kicks in with an epic intro followed by a lead melody and tempo keeping drumming, then blasting over Cradle Of Filth-esque riffage amazingly put together then followed naturally by groovy riffage, another break for reading the poem, back to the headbanging riffage which turns to blasting and from that to acoustic guitars to end the song. Then comes the third and last one: “Clamor Luna Part III – Regnum Sanguinis” purely piano and female singing, including some orchestral parts towards the end.

This is one of the best records of the year. Amazing variety in the music, well put together to create a masterpiece for the Greek metal scene. Well done W.E.B., it was well worth the wait! One who listens to atmospheric metal in general, owes to himself to listen to it, now!!