Varathron - Patriarchs of Evil

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BACKGROUND

The story of the dark path of VARATHRON (from their own website)

VARATHRON - biography (1988-…) Eternal years of Blasphemy

"When the blasphemic times signed, the endless dark surrounded thy earth and the unholy kingdom of an Assurdinal rose! Anthropomorphous Demons and ugly Witches summoned the Dark Lord, from the city of the demons Beled-L-Gin…  His name is VARATHRON"! An obscure dream came true! In the early days of 1988, four unholy souls, Captain Death (Spyros) (drums-ex-VOMIT and SOUND POLUTION), Mutilator (Jim) (bass, also in ROTTING CHRIST), John (guitar, also in DANGER CROSS) and Necroabyssious (Stephan) (vocals, ex-SICKNESS MIND), united their dark forces under the flag of VARATHRON! After many rehearsals, the first demo was a reality! Everything begun a stormy October night of 1989, when Necroabyssious, Mutilator, John and Captain Death recorded their legendary demo: "PROCREATION OF THE UNALTERED EVIL!"

The tape in spite of its poor sound quality had a pure blasphemic feeling which kills your brain". (As our great friend and brother, Dead of Mayhem said (R.I.P.)). So has immediately became a part of the Dark Art history! The spell has been cast! In December of 1989, the occult song called "THE GREAT SEAL OF GRAAL" was recorded! It was the last recording with Captain Death on drums! Therefore, in the year 1990, VARATHRON line-up had changed. The last days of December 1990, five black souls came in the studio for the new recordings! Necroabyssious, Mutilator, John, Stavros (guitar now in HORRIFIED) and Themis (drums in ROTTING CHRIST), recorded the second demo: "Genesis ."of Apocryphal Desire." A total apocryphal hymn! A month later, after their second demo, BLACK VOMIT RECORDS released a VARATHRON EP, called "One Step Beyond Dreams." One thousand hand numbered copies, which disappeared within the first weeks! Yet, it was the year 1992 that brought to VARATHRON a cult band status and the great respect in the world of Metal!

That was the time when one of the most legendary releases of the Greek underground scene saw the light of the day - VARATHRON/NECROMANTIA split album entitled significantly "Black Arts Lead to Everlasting Sins", released under the flag of BLACK POWER RECORDS. When you have such a trump in your hand, it is not difficult to get a record deal! After many proposals, VARATHRON chooses the offer of a Dutch, CYBER MUSIC RECORDS, which in the end of 1993 released their debut full-length album "His Majesty at the Swamp." The album itself was truly great, a masterpiece of darkness, obscure and abyssic material! The debut album was recorded in the summer of 1993 with a new line-up! Yes the obligatory army service stroke again and the new line-up was Necroabyssious (vocals); Mutilator (bass); Necroslaughter (Jim - guitars) (also in ZEMIAL and AGATUS). On drums they user a session drummer - a friend named Wolfen! After some years and some troubles, Mutilator left the band for personal reasons.

Necroslaughter, went to Australia where he formed the great ZEMIAL and AGATUS with his brother Eskarth - for personal reasons too! Therefore, the band was almost dead but rose like a phoenix from the ashes and with a new line-up, VARATHRON stronger than ever, was ready for the next attack! Necroabyssious, Wolfen, Pyrphoros (guitars and bass, ex-KAWIR) and Adrastos (synths) was totally ready! The Greek Black Metallers decided to trust their compatriots of UNISOUD RECORDS in 1994, UNISOUD RECORDS re-released the Blasphemic Masterpiece "Black Arts Lead to Everlasting Sins" on CD and LP, with different covers and the 7" EP  as bonus! One year later, that label unleashed VARATHRON's second opus, German titled "Walpurgisnacht"! The material was so obscure and apocryphal! The evolution against the other releases of the past was a basic member on synths! Unfortunately, the album missed its target for a great promotion! However, the band stayed alive and strong! In 1997, Ray Miller of CURSED PRODUCTIONS released the two demos and three unreleased songs on CD format! A great work and "Genesis of Apocryphal Desire" sold like mad! In the meantime, the Greek Glorifiers of Darkness were writing their new material waiting for their time to come. In addition, it came!

In 1999, VARATHRON signed in PAGAN RECORDS, a great Polish label with some new faces in the line-up! Necroabyssious (Vocals), Pyrphoros (guitars and bass); Spyros (Wolfen – drums) and Bill (Crazy Wizard – synths)! Adrastos left the band, after the recordings of "Walpurgisnacht", for personal reasons. Under the black banner of PAGAN RECORDS, VARATHRON released the mini-album titled "The Lament of Gods". Four original compositions, filled with dark and sinister melodies, as well as a thrilling cover version of MERCYFUL FATE's classic "NUNS HAVE NO FUN", shall smash in to pieces all your doubts about who is the leader of today's atmospheric black metal scene. The cover song of MERCYFUL FATE, was also included in a tribute to MERCYFUL FATE with bands like ACHERON, VITAL REMAINS, NECROPHAGIA, SOILWORK, DAN SWANO, etc. which was released under the Polish label STILL DEAD PRODUCTIONS and later under the American label DWELL RECORDS! The tribute was called "THE UNHOLY SOUNDS OF THE DEMON BELLS”! After some years of silence and hard work, His Majesty VARATHRON is finally back! Stronger than ever!

In the middle time some releases saw the light of the day! PAGAN RECORDS. re-released the great masterpiece "His Majesty at the Swamp" on CD and picture-vinyl with a different cover and a bonus track! In addition, ORDEALIS RECORDS released the two demos, "Procreation of the Unaltered Evil" and "Genesis of Apocryphal Desire" on vinyl format for the first time through the years! Besides, MUTILATION RECORDS released on a double-CD format the two full-length albums, and the mini-album as a tribute to VARATHRON's music! Great covers and limited editions for all the releases! Finally, under the flag of BLACK LOTUS RECORDS, VARATHRON are recording a new masterpiece!

"Crowsreign" is coming! The band is becoming alive with total "fresh" blood! Stephan "Necroabyssious"(Bill Vocals); Bill "Crazy Wizard" (Synths) and now Achilleas (Guitars and Bass) and Haris (Drums) are recording the new opus from September to October 2004! VARATHRON have almost ready the new forthcoming album:" STYGIAN FORCES OF SCORN". In addition, they looking for a new label, because BLACK LOTUS RECORDS was split-up. Bill "Crazy Wizard" left the band for personal reasons and the last line up is Necroabyssious (Vocals); Achilleas (Guitars); Sotiris (Guitars), Haris (Drums) and Tolis (Bass). Beware of the new blasphemic invasion! The Greek label SHADOWFACE RECORDS release our cult first album "HIS MAJESTY AT THE SWAMP" on amazing gatefold vinyl with A3 poster inside, 600 hand-numbered copies! The vinyl sells like a mad! VARATHRON finished the new album: "Stygian Forces of Scorn" and signed on an amazing Spanish label, DIE TODESRUNE RECORDS. In August 2009, the obscure masterpiece is out! Released on CD & LP version.

A great "comeback to the roots" from VARATHRON Horde's, an amazing release! EVIL RULES! JANUARY 2010! VARATHRON strikes back with "Desolation" on a great masterpiece split 7" inch vinyl, called "Darkness Has Landed." Released under the flag of FLOGA RECORDS and IRON BONEHEAD RECORDS. Late 2012 sees VARATHRON join forces with BLACK ALTAR and THORNSPAWN to create the unholy 3-way split album "Emissaries of the Darkened Call - Three Nails in the Coffin of Humanity," released on vinyl through FLOGA RECORDS and HELLSFIRE RECORDS, and on CD through ODIUM RECORDS. In addition, the cult Bolivian records RAWBLACK KULT PROD. Released it on tape in wooden box. It is also released on BLACK SAW PROD. / BLACKDEATH COVEN RECORDS in deluxe A5 Digi-pack. Juan Castellano created the internal artwork. 2013 saw VARATHRON and SATHANAS release a 7" through PAGAN RECORDS, featuring a new VARATHRON track! A new chapter for VARATHRON opens is 2014, seeing them enter a partnership with AGONIA RECORDS for the release of the long awaited pure blasphemic opus, “UNTRODDEN CORRIDORS OF HADES”, which will be released November 2014! Mark Riddick creates the stunning artwork!

To be continued….

“Ouroboros Dweller (The Dweller of Barathrum)” is as harmonic and symphonic as possible to blend in with the darkness. The heavy melody keeps the feet tapping throughout, with a few stages where heads will bang. The raw power of the clean, but low vocals is essential to both balancing, and the harmony itself. The vocals are in tune, making the sound mix in together so you’re not bombarded with a flurry of pure vocals, which you’d miss out on the amazing instruments, but also the vocals are not drowned out by the instruments. It is a great close of the album. The chanting to close is a nice touch to calm down and fade out.

“Tenebrous” is a mix mash-style beginning to the album, it blends a mix of Pagan and Folk Metal, with a touch of Melodic Death Metal. The clean bends of the guitar make you feel like it is all a fantasy world, with the darkened lyrics adding further depth and darkness. The hard hits from the drums and bass are similar to latter work from DARKTHRONE.

“Luciferian Mystical Awakening” the rain is pouring and a few dark figures begin playing. The odd deathgrowl breaks the rainstorm into a head-banging opener. The ongoing tempo is set highly to keep the song ticking over. This is a darkened mastery, life the Dark Lord himself. The tune fades down slightly into some harshly spoken word and growls, until the guitars kick back in to raise the atmospheric sound the is hitting your ears

Songwriting: 7
Originality: 7
Memorability: 7
Production: 7