Dark Embrace


Thessaloniki (Central Macedonia)
Black Metal
Active:
1995-2000

Following the triumphs of high-profile Hellenic acts like ROTTING CHRIST, NIGHTFALL and SEPTIC FLESH in the mid-1990s, plenty of Greek underground bands were eager to experiment with combining the dark and/or violent sonorities of Black/Death with classic Heavy Metal. Among these bands we find Thessaloniki’s DARK EMBRACE. Formed in 1995, the band stayed together approximately five years – long enough to put out two demo recordings and participate on a couple underground compilations. In typical Black Metal fashion, the members took on grandiose pseudonyms: Sir Zenoth (vocals – Κομοδίνα 3), Athameron (guitars, vocals, keyboards, etc. –CULTO APOKRYPHO, OPERTUM), Lord Satha (bass –OPERTUM) and Stormbringer (drums –NASTIR).

Both guitarist Athameron and bassist Lord Satha (Georgios Papantoniou) participated on the unreleased debut album of the Thessaloniki-based progressive Death Metal act OPERTUM.

Compilation appearances:
* Psyclone Sinphonies [CDr, Comp: Psyclone Sinphonies, 1998]
* Vibes from Below [CD, Comp: Alone, 1999]

d i s c o g r a p h y :

The Elusive Dreampath - Demo (Cassette) 1997 - Private (-)
(Studio N. (Thessaloniki), October-November 1997)
Details: Single-sided cassette, coloured j-card, insert w/ lyrics.

Reissues:
TRACKLIST:
Dreampath (Introduction) (instrumental)
Endless Darkness
Elusive Existance
Below Black Clouds
Lost Site
Conclusion (instrumental)
LINE-UP:
Orestis "Sir Zenoth" (vocals)
Athameron (guitars, vocals, recitations, chants, keyboards)
Georgios "Lord Satha" Papantoniou (bass)
Dimitrios "Stormbringer" (drums)
Rather than adhering to any established style, DARK EMBRACE went for a homebrewed merging of Black-, Death- and Heavy Metal on their debut recording. The result – as heard on “The Elusive Dreampath” (1997) – swaggers along at a mid-paced gallop for most of the time. Main emphasis is placed on the rhythmic riffing, further accentuated by the basic but effective percussion. On this fundament is added croaked vocals and additional melodic flair in form of lead guitars, keyboards, somber chanting and acoustic guitars. It wouldn’t have hurt if the band had spent some more time on refining and fleshing out their composition and sound, but “The Elusive Dreampath” remains a likeable and pretty catchy debut work.

Written by Johan Pettersson

Son of Dawn - Demo (Cassette) 2000 - Private (-)
(Studio N. (Thessaloniki))
Details: Single-sided cassette, black/white j-card.

Reissues:
TRACKLIST:
Son of Dawn
From the Ultimate Emptiness
LINE-UP:
Athameron (vocals, guitars, drums)
Georgios "Lord Satha" Papantoniou (bass, drums)
Dimitrios "Stormbringer" (drums)
By the time of their second demo, entitled “Son of Dawn” (2000), minor lineup changes had taken place in the DARK EMBRACE camp. Guitarist Athameron had taken over the vocal spot from Lord Zenoth and his more combative vocal approach fits well with the new musical direction of the band. Stylistically, they are still molding together Black-, Death- and Heavy Metal, but the music comes across as more aggressive, dense and dynamic – with less emphasis on Heavy Metal-styled riffing this time around. Instead, we are offered heavy, CELTIC FROST-sounding riffs which make out the fundament for the altogether “larger” sound and more intricate arrangements.

As a whole, the music is not as easily approached as it was on “The Elusive…”, but at the same time there’s more to discover in the details. If there’s anything to complain about, it would be that DARK EMBRACE should’ve worked more on connecting the various sections in the songs, as they sometimes come off as more disparate than they really are. Unfortunately, we never got a chance to see what this band could’ve accomplished, since “Son of Dawn” would prove to be their swansong. As for now, their work remains as an interesting obscurity for the cultists to discover.

Written by Johan Pettersson




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