In these times with few good news it was a positive change to hear that with AGATHODAIMON one of the best and most creative German bands in the Black Metal environment is back at the start – after the strong “In Darkness(2013) was the end for the time being, before band leader Martin “Sathonys” Wickler gathered a few men around him again in 2020 to indulge in the well-groomed black metal.
The result is now available with “The Seven” (guess how many AGATHODAIMON albums that is…) and proves that Sathonys, singer Chris “Ashtrael” Bonner and the three newcomers with the sounding stage names “Nakhateth”, “Von Yanesh” and “Mortos” (guitar, bass and drums respectively) still rock it.
The album starts with “La Haine” bitter, melodic-devilish riffs a la DISSECTION lead to a dark mid-tempo cracker. The following “Ain’t Death Grand”, by the way the first song the new line-up recorded together, is on the heavier side with its blast beats, before “Wolf Within” represents the first big highlight – a deep black Black Metal ballad of the best AGATHODAIMON- School. “Ghosts Of Greed” is reminiscent of the band’s early days with its choppy riffs (“Higher Art Of Rebellion”!), while “Mother Of All Gods” is more in the “Chapter III” direction with its symphonic impact. “Estrangement” is the next cracker, an epic-dark mid-tempo cracker that degenerates towards black metal at the end.
After the solemn instrumental “In My Dreams (Part 1 – Prelude)” comes another highlight with the Death Metal-heavy “In My Dreams (Part 2 – In Bitterness)”, in combination with the great chorus the secret winner of the disc. “Kyrie-Gloria” comes along with dark riffing, before finally “The Divine” with its varied parts and the fluctuation between heaviness, melodies and fine piano melodies seems almost progressive and through the guest appearance of the former fronter/keyboarder “Vlad Dracul”. reminded of the very old, glorious times.
Overall, “The Seven” is strongly connected to its predecessor “In Darkness”, especially with its varied mix of Black Metal roots and pans towards Dark, Doom, Symphonic and other Metals. The degree of heaviness was felt to have increased a bit, but otherwise AGATHODAIMON – despite many line-up changes – stick to the meanwhile guaranteed and successful formula. Happy comeback!