Acherontas are a Greek black metal band that specialize in mysticism and the occult. In their own words, they describe themselves as “a magickal coven dedicated to the ancient Sumerian mysteries of Drakonian Blood”. And to top it off, their newest album Nekyia - The Necromantic Patterns was even released on Walpurgisnacht, the night of witches.
Formed in 2007, Acherontas have been releasing a consistently enjoyable stream of albums for almost two decades, Nekyia marking their 11th full-length work. The project is helmed by founder Nikolaos Panagopoulos, who seems to go by a few different stage names such as Acherontas V. Priest, V.P. Sorcerer, or V.P. Adept. However you want to call him, he continues to deliver his signature vocals and guitar skills, while, this time around, also providing elegant piano playing.
While the rest of the Acherontas lineup has constantly shifted over the years, I was nevertheless taken by surprise when I didn't see any of the other regular band members in the credits of Nekyia. Instead, it seems the frontman has gathered together a large assortment of guest contributions, including additional female vocals and even a saxophone player. The most notable addition, at least for me personally, is the guitarist D. Yama Ram (Daniel Souza), the frontman of the Brazilian meloblack band Outlaw, whose 2023 album I had favorably reviewed.
The album title Nekyia refers to journeying to the underworld or evoking spirits of the dead. Indeed, the lyrics here detail pagan rituals, spirituality, and entering nether realms. On the surface, these themes seem thoroughly explored by the Satanic imagery of countless 2nd wave of black metal bands, yet Acherontas have always been able to stand out from the crowd, making their concept and execution seem refreshingly original. A great deal of credit needs to be given to the vocals, which alternates between blackened rasps and clean, baritone incantations. Especially these latter, deep intonations, spoken with a characteristic Greek accent, really sell this mystical, otherworldly feeling. True to his stage name, the frontman sounds like a priest or shaman summoning elder gods from the abyss, and, on songs like “Venomous Ascension - The Nexus of the Void”, additional female chants contribute perfectly to match lyrics about “altars to the Great Bloodthirsty Goddess”.
Instrumentally, the guitar-work of the Acherontas and Outlaw frontmen blend incredibly well, creating interweaving melodies to match the multi-layered vocals. This rich, ritualistic atmosphere is engaging and intoxicating. And, while I always love fast-paced black metal riffing, my favorite moments on Nekyia are when Acherontas slow down the pace, enhancing even further the hypnotic, chthonic vibe. These moments appear on practically every song here, but perhaps the best examples are during the endings of two tracks in particular: “Serpent's Oath - Hymns of the Coiled Void” and “The Chalice of Fiery Transmutation”. The latter might, in fact, be my favorite track overall on this album, as it contains some truly exquisitely melodic guitar solos and a chilling climax.
The album ends in quite a unique and very ambient way: tremolo-picked guitars craft a backdrop of reflective melodies, while, in the foreground, one hears the Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti read aloud his “Truth is a Pathless Land”. His short essay describes that no religion or ideology can lead a person to truth—they must find their own way, without following any established path. Given that one of Acherontas’s best albums, Vamachara, takes its title from the Hindu term for the “left hand path”, it's perhaps not so surprising that they have sought other inspiration from India as well.
In conclusion, Nekyia - The Necromantic Patterns is another very enjoyable black metal release from this consistently great Greek coven of archaic magick and spirituality. In fact, I’d say it’s one of the best albums of Acherontas that I've heard in recent times, as it successfully creates an immersive atmosphere of interwoven guitar melodies and intimidating incantations, continuously strengthening their signature image of occult rituals, esoteric lore, and spiritual awakening.
