Mithras Forever Advancing
. Legions
Golden Lake Productions 2002
By Russell Garwood
English band Mithras (formerly Imperator) released debut album Forever Advancing . Legions through Golden Lake Productions. A three piece, the band comprises Leon Macey (guitars, all music, drums, keyboards), Raynor Coss (vocals, bass) and Ben White (guitars, keyboards). The trio play brutal, epic, experimental death metal - heavily influenced by bands such as Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal, Bal Sagoth and Nile - with progressive touches. Surprisingly, keyboards manage to blend well on the tracks where they are used, while the drumming is tight and fast, and the guitars brutally heavy. The lyrics, largely based on ancient civilizations, spirituality and dreaming, and artwork courtesy of Desmond Sia fits the music well.
The album is opened by the keyboard-based, four minute title track, which is followed by the standout Trample Their Works showcasing Maceys proficient drumming. Sloping Altars is another grinding, speedy effort with impressive drum work and accomplished guitar solos, while Arena Sands has a very welcome and fitting atmospheric keyboard section that fragments the brutality before abruptly returning to death metal. The midpoint of the album is marked by two more quiet tracks, Amidst The Fallen Arches and The Green Wanderer Returns, both dramatic with a theatrical pomp which unexpectedly complements the other music. Wrath Of God, with pinched harmonics and syncopated rhythms, verges on catchy, and is undoubtedly one of the best tracks on the album, demonstrating a more technical side to the band. As The Wind Blows is a blasting onslaught, matched in ferocity by the following song Vae Solis. Both are unremitting and harsh in the extreme while Dreaming In Splendour[sic] doesnt let up either. With penultimate track Tomb Of Kings an Egyptian feel returns, and the album closes as it began - with a classically-influenced keyboard track.
Forever Advancing . Legions is an impressive album, especially for such a small label. The production could be clearer, and sounds slightly tinny at times, but generally doesnt detract from the finished product. The music is well written, and proficiently performed. There is however, a lack of subtlety in the transitions between quiet and louder sections to such an extent that if youre not paying attention they can come as a shock: better integration of the atmospherics would be welcome. Mithras play an interesting form of death metal, however, and show much promise; with a little development and perhaps more variation they could prove to be an influential band.
Golden Lake Productions 2002
By Russell Garwood
English band Mithras (formerly Imperator) released debut album Forever Advancing . Legions through Golden Lake Productions. A three piece, the band comprises Leon Macey (guitars, all music, drums, keyboards), Raynor Coss (vocals, bass) and Ben White (guitars, keyboards). The trio play brutal, epic, experimental death metal - heavily influenced by bands such as Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal, Bal Sagoth and Nile - with progressive touches. Surprisingly, keyboards manage to blend well on the tracks where they are used, while the drumming is tight and fast, and the guitars brutally heavy. The lyrics, largely based on ancient civilizations, spirituality and dreaming, and artwork courtesy of Desmond Sia fits the music well.
The album is opened by the keyboard-based, four minute title track, which is followed by the standout Trample Their Works showcasing Maceys proficient drumming. Sloping Altars is another grinding, speedy effort with impressive drum work and accomplished guitar solos, while Arena Sands has a very welcome and fitting atmospheric keyboard section that fragments the brutality before abruptly returning to death metal. The midpoint of the album is marked by two more quiet tracks, Amidst The Fallen Arches and The Green Wanderer Returns, both dramatic with a theatrical pomp which unexpectedly complements the other music. Wrath Of God, with pinched harmonics and syncopated rhythms, verges on catchy, and is undoubtedly one of the best tracks on the album, demonstrating a more technical side to the band. As The Wind Blows is a blasting onslaught, matched in ferocity by the following song Vae Solis. Both are unremitting and harsh in the extreme while Dreaming In Splendour[sic] doesnt let up either. With penultimate track Tomb Of Kings an Egyptian feel returns, and the album closes as it began - with a classically-influenced keyboard track.
Forever Advancing . Legions is an impressive album, especially for such a small label. The production could be clearer, and sounds slightly tinny at times, but generally doesnt detract from the finished product. The music is well written, and proficiently performed. There is however, a lack of subtlety in the transitions between quiet and louder sections to such an extent that if youre not paying attention they can come as a shock: better integration of the atmospherics would be welcome. Mithras play an interesting form of death metal, however, and show much promise; with a little development and perhaps more variation they could prove to be an influential band.
