Cromlech

Not to be confused with the 10-15 other bands from around the globe sporting the same name, CROMLECH was an Athenian Black Metal act formed in 1997. Their early lineup consisted of Novartiis (vocals), Hellcrooner (guitars – wonderful pseudonym!) and Unchum (drums), expanded by Echetos (bass – CARPATHIAN LORDS, HATE MANIFESTO,KAWIR) and Mayhia (keyboards) on a session basis.

In early 1999, CROMLECH released their first demo CDr “The Fall of Christianity”, which stylistically harkens back to 1990s Nordic Black Metal rather than its Greek counterpart. Especially early DIMMU BORGIR and ANCIENT comes to mind, particularly in the way the band meshes raw riffing, atmospheric keyboard/acoustic-driven passages and croaked vocals. In fact, the band actually played a gig with ANCIENT in Athens during the same period together with Greek compatriots SADISTIC NOISE.

The following years saw some member changes, with vocalist Novartiis now also handling the guitar- and bass, joined by newcomers Apollyon (drums) and Helen (keyboards, vocals). 2001’s demo/EP “In Sickness and Distress” – again released on CDr – went further into the romanticist field with even more emphasis on keyboards, something which brought them perhaps even closer to DIMMU BORGIR’s “For All Tid”/”Stormblåst”-era.

The band was eventually put to rest in 2002, but there has been some talk about a reunion in recent years.

Compilation appearances: