The very state of the Greek metal scene has never been something to question nor has it been anything that I’ve been silent about in the slightest for years now. It has long been positively overflowing with quality acts of all sorts of different sounds from the long-held bastions kept up by immense veterans or newer names hoping to make some sort of a splash in that tremendous pool of talent. The latter is always fascinating to me as it gives us the opportunity time and again to see what new talent is able to bring to the table to show us just how the Greek metal scene can still surprise us after so long. With its debut EP, Among Death’s Shadow put forth an EP that is far from earth-shattering, but in every way something that deserves our attention for what it dares to achieve.
A work like this is, on its own, doesn’t have much fault. “Darkness of My Dreams” knows the job it set out to do from the get-go with the approach taken by Among Death’s Shadow far from anything that is to be looked down upon or judged for what it sought to bring to life with the results being quite splendid: melodic death metal with a slight black metal-tinged sound that comes together quite well for a potent, balanced package. While the influences from the likes of Children of Bodom can be felt in practically every given moment to my ears, I cannot sit here and even dare to think that Among Death’s Shadow stands as a clear rip-off of that titanic band. Where lesser bands would have easily fallen into such a trap and come out with material that feels like a cheap copy-paste job more than a genuine work that builds upon that influence while the band in question adds their own personal touches, Among Death’s Shadow quickly comes out on top. “Darkness of My Dreams” is utterly magnetic even in its smallest moments as the underground of melodic death metal is at a constant high with Among Death’s Shadow constantly and consistently showing us just what an understanding of the sound they already have despite this being their first work as a unit. I shudder to think what they’re capable of on a complete full-length album.
Greece has always been home to burgeoning acts looking to stake their claim to greatness in the underground, and Among Death’s Shadow proves to be no difference with these four tracks being more than enough to earn them a spot on anybody’s radar who is looking for quality melodic death metal. Practically everything went right in the crafting of “Darkness of My Dreams” with the end-result no less than surprisingly flavorful to the point that I greatly await the second course.
LISTEN to “Darkness of My Dreams” on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Among Death’s Shadow on Facebook here.
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