Varathron – The Crimson Temple (Review)

Varathron are a Greek black metal band and this is their seventh album.

I haven’t caught up with Varathron since 2014’s Untrodden Corridors of Hades, so reconnecting with them is long overdue. The Crimson Temple contains 49 minutes of new material, and it’s something quite something.

The Varathron experience remains a multifaceted and richly detailed one. The Crimson Temple is bursting with esoteric aggression, blackened heavy metal weight, and riveting texture. Spreading out with melodic power, epic grace, and atmospheric depth, The Crimson Temple is a striking and arresting listen.

The music is characterised by an immersive grandeur and individual personality that’s blended with a potent form of blackened might. Varathron bring together a range of styles and influences, and not just the standard black metal ones; here you can hear echoes of bands like Samael and Celtic Frost, alongside the likes of Rotting Christ and a touch of Septicflesh‘s ability to write concise epics.

The songs are well-written and boast many effective hooks. The Crimson Temple is littered with melodies, riffs, and vocals that instantly grab you, yet also draw you in and immerse over time. Upon first listen it’s immediately apparent that Varathron’s latest towers over the competition, and upon repeated spins it merely cements that appraisal in unbreakable granite. There is a creative energy here that’s notable.

The Crimson Temple has impressed with its songwriting, performances, and production values. All aspects of this record feel carefully curated, and it benefits from being both highly professional and passionately delivered. This is a superlative work from a band that have more than earned their place in black metal history.

Majestic and rewarding, this is a compulsory listen for fans of music with idiosyncratic flavour.