Band:	Yoth Iria
Album:	Under His Sway
Style:	Melodic black metal
Release date:	January 13, 2020
A review by:	nikarg

01. Under His Sway
02. Sid-Ed-Djinn
03. Visions Of The Dead Lover [Rotting Christ cover]

Yoth Iria features in its ranks a very big and very important part of the Hellenic black metal history, and they take their name after the lyrics of Rotting Christ's song "The Fourth Knight Of Revelation" from their debut, Thy Mighty Contract. You can guess where I am going with this, can't you?

Quick history lesson: Jim Mutilator is the founding member, bassist and lyricist of both Rotting Christ and Varathron, while The Magus is the founding member, vocalist and bassist of Necromantia, and he also played keyboards on the first Rotting Christ releases. These two legends of the scene recruited George Emmanuel (Lucifer's Child, ex-Rotting Christ) on guitars and arguably the best drummer from this neck of the woods, the mighty Maelstrom (Thou Art Lord, Nigredo, Dephosphorus, ex-Ravencult, ex-Dødsferd, and many others). This is the stellar line-up that recorded Under His Sway in George Emmanuel's Pentagram Studios.

The EP features two new songs and a cover of Rotting Christ's amazing "Visions Of The Dead Lovers" from 1993's Αποκαθήλωσις. The title track is melodic, Bathory-esque, mid-paced, epic-sounding and very atmospheric with some breaks reminding of more recent Rotting Christ material, even though the main part of the song is very retro-loving and takes us back to tracks like "Non Serviam" or "King Of A Stellar War", while The Magus's vocals give it a very dark and sinister feel. "Sid Ed Djinn" is more versatile, mixing doomier parts, blastbeats, galloping riffs and oriental female vocals, and it is more reminiscent of post-Theogonia Rotting Christ.

I'm sure you've noticed which band's name is repeatedly mentioned in this review. The thing is that these two new tracks are better than almost anything Rotting Christ have done in recent years and they actually sit proudly next to the classic "Visions Of The Dead Lovers" without giving the impression of being some sort of half-assed comeback. Instead, they are both fine specimens of heavy/doom and epic black metal from the Mediterranean shores and mark Jim's triumphant return to music, not with a rehashed throwback release but with a modern sound that takes its cues of course from the scene that he pioneered.

Given the fact that Yoth Iria and Rotting Christ do have a similar sound, it makes sense for people to hope for a reunion. I don't know what the future will bring but for now I am very happy with what Yoth Iria have done with Under His Sway and cannot wait for the full-length.

"I am the throne of your existence
I am the shadow of your remorse
Whether you look at me or not
You will be a part of me"

*This EP is dedicated to the memory of Baron Blood (Necromantia), who passed away last year.