Ithaqua - Initiation to Obscure Mysteries [Iron Bonehead - 2015]These past couple years have been great for Greek black metal. With awesome new releases from Varathron, Macabre Omen, Nocternity, Spectral Lore, Hail Spirit Noir, etc. in just the past couple years alone, it appears the scene is flourishing. Of course, this revival would mean nothing without at least some new blood. Enter Ithaqua, a promising duo playing old school black metal with the blood of Rotting Christ coursing through their veins. Released earlier this year on tape by Iron Bonehead, the band’s first demo Initiation to Obscure Mysteries shows a glimpse into this promising young group’s future. After a brief intro of wind sweeping across a desolate landscape accented by an angelic-sounding synth backdrop, the album proper begins with two tracks that proudly show the influence of early Rotting Christ on their sleeves. Both “Sorcerers of Profane Enchantment” and “Summoning the Incarnations of the Worm” are both build around those early styled, almost blackened traditional riffs, with tons of attitude and groove. The prominent bass presence helps round out the crunchy guitar tone, and onIthaqua – Initiation to Obscure Mysteries “Summoning the Incarnations of the Worm” the bass licks hit you like a punch to the stomach. Guiding all of the grittiness is deft songwriting, with lots of tempo changes and slight evolution despite the bulk of the track retaining a signature, rocking riff. The synth background present in the intro carries throughout the demo’s length, adding a more spiritual element to the graveyard atmosphere conjured by the riffs. The following track “ Abyssic Journey to the Elder Demons” departs slightly from the formula laid out by the previous two. Although the same riffing style is present, it’s slowed down and moodier, with slower drums accompanying the doleful march. This is track is also unique for featuring early black metal styled tremolos wafting out a palpable aura of decay. The synths also take a much more prominent position, almost as an equal to the guitars. This ancient evil gives way to the length outro “Beyond the Cursed Lines”, which is a lonesome bass riff repeated again and again as the wind carries us off to a distant land. I mentioned a half dozen excellent Greek bands earlier, and while they soon may have another added to their ranks, I don’t think Ithaqua is quite there yet. Of course, this is only their first demo, and a very promising one at that. I’m confident this duo has what it takes to keep the flame of early Rotting Christ alive, but it will be interesting to see how they begin to develop their sound with subsequent releases. All in all, it’s a fun little demo, very much worth picking up if you can still source it. Iron Bonehead and numerous other distros are already sold out, so you’d better act fast!    Tyler L.
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