Shahnameh

Here we have a one man band, product of Mr. Mir Shamal Hama-faraj, but it doesn't sound like some bedroom Burzum worship. There are clearly hours upon hours of practice that went into the tight playing and compositions, and the rather professional production really gives Cyaraxes a huge leg up over other new bands of the region.

Mir is definitely an accomplished musician--all the playing on here is super tight, and the songs are well structured and arranged. There's a great variety in the songwriting, although not quite all of it is awesome. The opener "Temples of Fire" has a great breakdown towards the end that breaks up the raging blastbeat sandstorms that pummel you from the beginning. Riffs are definitely very Oriental in nature, but heavy as fuck. "Seraphim" is a bit less intense than the opener, showing a bit of melody and melancholy that I was not expecting. "Bringer of Light" is likewise very atmospheric, but more on the creepy side, with some crushing doom passeages. "The Whirling Sufi" could be described as Oriental thrash, with the shifting riffs. Then there are some almost out of place clean vocals which feel odd, but later in "Horns of Hattin" they are used more effectively and more subtly.

There's a definite similarity to Syrians Maysaloon, but Cyaraxes is more melodic, although with less flashly lead guitar. Though he's competent and tasteful, Mir could really use another guitarist to compliment his lead playing. Most of Mir's vocals are the low, deathly growls you'd hear from Behemoth or Maysaloon. Drums sound programmed or from an electronic kit, but match everything perfectly.

Though this is apparently Cyaraxes third album, there are a few pieces that feel like they could use a little more polishing, in particular the melodic sections. In contrast to the heavy sections, which are dead nuts on and crushing, a few of the melodic parts feel thin. Still, Mir's clearly an awesome musician, so hopefully he'll be able to churn out something that tops Shahnameh.