The Doctrine of Awakening

Avaris is a new project of two tremendously talented musicians of the hellenic black metal scene, Jarl Von Hagall from the legendary Der Stürmer and mighty Amphiaraos that has played in Kawir and countless other quality occult black metal bands. When those two talented musicians joined forces in Avaris, the result was phenomenal: "The Doctrine Of Awakening" is for me the best black metal album to come from my country in recent years. The album starts with a calm and classical intro that captivates you, preparing you for the black metal thunderstorm to come. Once the mighty riff from "The Doctrine of Awakening" kicks in, you are transformed to a new, mythical dimension; the staggering keyboards, like the chariot of Apollo drive you to ancient days of yore, when gods and immortal heroes walked the earth.

The combination of Amphiaraos's powerful riffs and keyboards create a beautiful atmosphere, that evokes images from the ancient past, filling you with a sense of glory, pride and heroism. As for JVH's vocals, they are once again passioned and full of emotion, blending perfectly with Amphiaraos's clean vocals, that give an epic touch to the album; they sound at times like a mystical priest of Apollo, revealing his secret invocations to the listener. Despite the riffs being closer to Scandinavian black metal rather than Hellenic, where the guitars have a sound closer to traditional heavy metal, the album has the Hellenic spirit and essence, that very few bands manage to capture. "Ὠδή στους Σαλαμινομάχους" is a very good example of what I am talking about; despite having a fast, aggressive riff that brings to mind traditional Scandinavian black metal, the pronunciation and tone of JVH's vocals combined with the unique keyboards definetely make you feel the Hellenic spirit which overwhelms the album. "Σκιρῖται", "An Ode to Hyperborean Avaris", "The Return", "Evocation of the Ancestral Heritage" all those songs follow the same amazing pattern; fast and melodic riffs filled with emotion and epicness that bind perfectly with the eerie sound of the keyboards and the transitions between the dark and hateful vocals of JVH and the haunting, clean vocals of Amphiaraos. Apart from the exceptional riffs and mesmerizing melodies, the lyrics are pure poetry, matching the high level of the compositions. Avaris's lyrics are not just soulless ancestor worship, but rather an ideologically charged glorification of the Hyperborean Hellenic soul. The fact that most of them are written in Greek enchances the Hellenic atmosphere of the album and helps -especially the Greek listeners- embrace the philosophy and feelings the composers intend to convey with this release.

In conclusion, "The Doctrine of Awakening" is the best thing the Hellenic black metal scene has produced in years, a gem for every collection, and an immortal classic that gods definitely enjoy in Olympus.