The Greek titans of gothic death doom On Thorns I Lay return once again.
With a career spanning twenty eight years & nine studio albums On Thorns I Lay have carved out their own signature sound within the death doom genre.
And now joining forces with Season Of Mist to release their self-titled tenth album “On Thorns I Lay”. Which showcases the most ambitious album the band have recorded to date.
Album opener “Fallen From Grace” starts the record in the most impactful way. Building its real ambience & setting the tone of the record. Slowly creeping in with string sections & angelic cries before a brief pause. Then the band unleashes. Introducing a sultry, hypnotic riff that really pushes the track forward.
Frontmant Peter Miliadis’s vocals are the first thing you notice in the album. A real earthy growl that feels very natural & covers the music in a large cloak of brutality. The track also picks up speed at moments, keeping it from getting stale & too repetitive.
By this first track we heard a huge melting pot of genres. Huge doomy riffs blended with death metal chugging. Thick & thunderous drums that you feel hit the pit of your stomach. And even little hints of black metal that just seep into the track like a fog soaked landscape. Creating a real interesting & unique sound.
Follow up “Newborn Skies” really starts to push the epic gothic sound. But first still keeping with the deep heavy chugging it opens fierce but then slowly starts to bring in more of the melodic elements.
The chorus really opens up allowing Miliadis to expand his vocal delivery which gives the track great texture & feel. As the track moves to the bridge section its grand build up is finally allowed to unfold. The use of keys on this section is superb & drenches the song in an eerie but gorgeous blanket of melancholy.
Starting with the biggest cavernous doom riffs in the band’s arsenal “Among The Wolves” set up the track perfectly. Drawing you in with its reverb soaked guitars expertly helmed by Christos Dragamestianos & Filippos Koliopanos. While subtle by elegant keys by Antonis Ventouris creepy underneath the whaling guitars. Give the track an extra thick texture that emotes so much.
The band again built the track piece by piece. Giving the track a greater feeling moment to moment. Creating a journey like quality that some death doom bands miss. These songs feel brilliantly crafted, well thought out & structured perfectly.
Unlike others closing track “Thorns Of Fire” sees the band up the ante & create the heaviest material on the album. Starting with a classic death metal style riffing that feels soaked in dirge & filth this track is hard hitting but still full of melody.
As the track builds to the chorus we get another catchy & groove driven section that is instantly memorable. As the album draws to its end the band turn up the melody. Bringing in mandolins & big chorus keys to create a huge ending to the album.
On Thorns I Lay have been able to create an album that really does encompass their whole sound as a band. Melding their early gothic sound with the later death doom era while adding interesting & provoking moments of melody has created a worthy album of the self titled nature. An album that celebrates On Thorns I Lay’s legacy while also pushing the band forward into the modern era of death doom.
Joseph Mitchell
On Thorns I Lay is out via Season of Mist on 13th October 2023
Track list:
1. Fallen From Grace (8:07)
2. Newborn Skies (4:44)
3. Crestfallen (8:08)
4. Among The Wolves (7:38)
5. Raise Empires (7:18)
6. Thorns Of Fire (7:23)
Track list:
1. Fallen From Grace (8:07)
2. Newborn Skies (4:44)
3. Crestfallen (8:08)
4. Among The Wolves (7:38)
5. Raise Empires (7:18)
6. Thorns Of Fire (7:23)
Recording Line-up:
Peter Miliadis: Vocals
Christos Dragamestianos: Guitars
Filippos Koliopanos: Guitars
Giannis Koskinas: Bass
Antonis Ventouris: Keyboards
Stelios Darakis: Drums
Current Line-up:
Peter Miliadis: Vocals
Christos Dragamestianos: Guitars
Nikolas Paraskevopoulos: Guitars
Kostas Mexis: Bass
Antonis Ventouris: Keyboards
Stelios Darakis: Drums
Recording, mix & master: Fotis Benardo at Devasoundz Studios
Guest musicians:
‘Fallen From Grace’: Fanny Melfi, Labros Kiklis, Katerina Tzitzou, Irina Dimaki, Anna Thana
‘Thorns Of Fire’: Stavros Papagiannakopoulos, Ilias Mantikos
‘Crestfallen’: Stavros Papagiannakopoulos, Aris Karatzas
‘Newborn Skies’, ‘Raise Empires’, ‘Among The Wolves’: Aris Karatzas
Cover artwork: Dimitris Tzortzis
Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/otilpresave
Formats:
CD Digipak
Digital
12” Vinyl in various colours
Links:
https://onthornsilay.live/
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.instagram.com/
https://onthornsilay.bandcamp.
https://www.youtube.com/@