'Arrayan Path' is a Cypriot power metal band that has just released its 7th recording studio 'Archegonoi' which is a double concept album and obviously, given their origins, they deal with Greek mythology and talk about their ancestors (Archegonoi, in Greek ΑΡΧΕΓΟΝΟΙ, means 'The old born'). Lasting 83 minutes, it is an epic fresco and the style is in tune with the concept, mixing power metal, progressive and symphonic metal and traditionalized metalized music, the epic and powerful side getting closer to a group like 'Therion'. Given the density of the album, you must of course tame it little by little and it would be too long to inflict you some title by title because everyone has his own personality and deserves that we dwell on it. Therefore, I will tell you about those who have impressed me the most: first, 'Weaving the Web of Destiny' is filled with Slavic influences with a majestic chorus which makes it certainly one of the most epic titles of the album and the singing of 'Nicholas Leptos' contributes a lot. 'Sins of Pandora', with its oriental influences merges beautifully metal energy and Arabian sounds while 'The World of Menelaus', which is undoubtedly my favorite title, embarks us between traditional music and guitar riffs power. In the 2nd CD, 'Blood of the Sphynx' has beautiful rhythmic breaks and a beautiful central instrumental part that breaks with the powerful atmosphere. As for 'Where The Hydra Hides', we come back to an epic and theatrical title embellished here and there with traditional instruments and 'King of Argos' is the only power ballad of the album but with a very effective melody and beautiful choirs, the album ending with the long title 'Thermopylae 480 BC' which closes in a grandiose way this epic story. In short, this latest album of the Cypriots of ‘Arrayan Path' is a grandiose metal fresco captivating from beginning to end and, even though 'Archegonoi' requires several listenings to fully realize the richness of all its titles and to appreciate them at their true value, it is for me a major album of metal of the year 2018 which should, like the good wine, to improve again with the time... | |
