Seed of Hate

There is a band called Black Sun hailing from Ecuador who released a pretty cool record in 2017 titled “The Pupeteer”. The band being subject to this review is not this one but acting in a similar field, combining pretty traditional metal with some proggy nuances and an extra portion of melodies. Having been formed in 1993 (!) they have released a bunch of demos and an EP in 2015, but I took until 2019 before their full length debut saw the light of day so let’s find out if “Seed of Hate” was worth the wait.

Similar to the work of a lot of their Greek colleagues the roots of the music can be found in the US power metal scene, enhanced by some typical European trademarks. Some of the riffs and chord progressions remind of bands like Queensryche, Enertia or Jacob’s Dream, expanded by a few lead guitar melodies that bear similarity to acts like Iron Maiden or Angel Witch. While most of the time the music is pretty much straight-forward a few more laid-back sections have been added, lending the whole sound a certain melancholic and epic feel. Each song has its signature riffs, making it stand out from the others, with some being hymnal and glorious and others carrying a slower and even slightly doomy vibe.

Some additional elements like tempo and rhythm shifts have been used to give the whole music an additional layer. The songwriting is quite mature and the guys exactly knew where they wanted to go. The harmonies are hooky and the refrains are catchy and memorable for the most part. The song structures are well defined, following the traditional verse-chorus formula quite often and the overall placement of the single tracks in the context of the album lead to it being easily enjoyable. Consuming this album in one sitting is enhancing the experience even more.

The rhythm section is playing tight and often technically impressive without getting in the way of the musical flow. Singer Konstantinos has a clear and commanding voice and he can easily stand his ground against better known names. His delivery is often pushing the music up a notch or two without ever going overboard.

The production is nearly flawless which is especially impressive given that this is an independent release. The guitars have a crunchy yet clean and not too fluffy sound, and the drums have a nice punch to them. The mix is clear with each instrument being audible. Overall I can only recommend this record to each fan of quality melodic metal of the US but also the European school. It is quite probable that this one is going to end up in a few collections.