The Greeks of Septicflesh are the masters of dark, symphonic and gothic death metal. They mix grandiloquent orchestrations, death cavalcades and occultism. "Codex Omega" was a beautiful album with energetic, melancholic and melodic music. With "Modern Primitive", the band reinforced by Dinos Prassas alias Psychon (Nyne) wants to increase its bewitching power tenfold... Will this "Modern Primitive" surpass its predecessor?
"Modern Primitive" is a very melodic opus, carried by superb female voices. On 'Self Eater', the soprano vocals bring a sweetness and clarity to a disturbing music. The piano strengthens the softness, sprinkling the track with fine crystalline touches. 'A Desert Throne' also leaves plenty of room for a beautiful, suave voice that, like a modern siren, bewitches forever.
The orchestrations are polished and superb. 'Coming Storm' combines an intense soli with beautiful symphonic parts and magnificent soprano vocals. The rhythmic guitar is like a counterpoint to the male screams. 'Modern Primitive' begins softly with stripped down guitar notes, and then takes all his power with leaded riffs and an epic orchestration almost Wagnerian.
The power is thus of setting throughout the disc. Because even if 'The Collector' begins with some soft notes, very quickly the heaviness crushes the track. Some oriental colors induce a worrying atmosphere, falsely reassuring. Finally 'Hierophant' is a track whose slow pace and grandiloquent voice intensify its devastating power.
"Modern Primitive" is a varied record with a strong production. The heavy passages mix with simple arpeggios, the crystalline voices are associated with dissonant melodies and disturbing atmospheres. Septicflesh releases a quality album, although rather classic, reminding the previous productions. Modern: possibly, primitive: certainly not, enjoyable: absolutely!