Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 04:12 PM by Giorgos Tsekas
Genre: Thrash Metal
Country: Greece
Label: ROAR!
Year: 2016
Ilias Papadakis’ Memorain have managed to release their seventh album to the day, having already 17 years of career on their backs, which is actually something that not a lot of people have appreciated; it is an important accomplishment in such a relatively short time. Additionally, the fact that in each of their records participate many music stars as guests is just as important. We’re talking about musicians, such as James Murphy, Gene Hoglan, Steve DiGiorgio, Ralph Santola, Ripper, Nick Menza, Jed Simon, Jeff Waters. In the band’s new record David Ellefson with Blaze Bailey participate in “The Last Of Light”. Also Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley (Flotsam And Jetsam) serve as guests, while the record’s artwork was a creation of Caio Caldas (Dragonforce, Doro).
However over the years, if you noticed, the band has never received the appropriate recognition or support from the domestic metal audience, contrary to what many other bands of the country have received and the paradox is that their influences come from bands like Annihilator, Megadeth, Kreator, Testament , Iced Earth and generally bands that are in the top preferences for Greek fans. In “Duality Of Man” the Megadeth influences are gone and have been substituted by the crazy riffings of Annihilator and Slayer, the songs’ structures remind us of Kreator, which is something that I agree with. In addition, there are some groovy and modern touches, no overuse though. The band’s singer Vaggelis Kolios fits perfectly the band, mixing Marco Aro and Matt Barlow with hardcore/metalcore references, doing an excellent job in all of the tracks, either fast or ballads.
They are, along with InnerWish and Rotting Christ, one of the best Greek releases of this year and I think that they have decided what they want to play, although one cannot be sure about what the future holds. “Demon’s Hunt” is a great album opener and an example that reflects the essence of the band. Besides that, “Guardian Knight”, “The Last of Light”, “The Giant”, “The Crescent” are also some of their great tracks.
4.5/6
