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TYRANNOS
Spears Of The Aten EP

Self-released (2022)
Rating: 8/10

Way back in 2017, London, England-based progressive deathsters Tyrannos released their debut single ‘Beneath The Pharaonic Necropolis’ which, as I expected, was a rather riveting experience as the band combined dehydrated vocal outbursts with esoteric, jarring assaults. Fast forward to 2022 and I’m glad to say that Tyrannos has remained as effective and above all experimental, because on this four track affair (which includes a new version of ‘Beneath The Pharaonic Necropolis’) there’s a cauldron of curiosities to savour with not only some intriguing axe work to contend with but violin and cello thrown in for good measure.

This is clever metal that merges death metal, thrash metal and progressive heavy metal, the band always remaining busy within its structure to the point that the leads alone are worth the entry fee. Allastair Thomson is a wizard with those solos, but all around him there’s much too savour and yet rarely does the band build inaccessible mazes with which to navigate. Instead, we get blasts of dry ice and ever-shifting passages of expression, especially on the mesmeric ‘Cycle Of Idols’ which one moment chugs like a glossy, new wave thrash band but within seconds there’s a mechanised rolling of grey machinery that suddenly feels esoteric and ancient.

As the press release states, this is “expansive, visionary death metal” whereby we are treated to flowing percussion from guest drummer Scott Fuller (Morbid Angel) which run as veiny threads through those deeply Gothic, booming constructions. Vocally, Bonno Stobart has an ashen gasp, but there are times when he opts for cold, clinical and clear booms.

‘The Tyrant’s Bane’ begins with a suspenseful violin, before a feeling of dread overtakes the listener as if they’ve been trapped in some suffocating study of ancient leering books heaving with dark spells. But then the combo comes together to create a dense wall of angular rhythms where riffs and bass chug which work in tandem with those dry vocal coughs. I dare anyone to try to headbang to this, because ‘The Tyrant’s Bane’ never gives you a moment to be on the level as sparks fly from the lead work, yet a flash of, say, Coroner worms its way into the framework.

I’ve spun this one quite a few times, exploring its depths to the best of my ability, and all I can say is that as closing track ‘Sun Disc Cataclysm’ unravels it’s best to just describe this as melodic death metal but with much more substance.

The flashes of grey complexity certainly give the EP an extra layer of draughtiness, but there really is something for everybody here without being showy. This is thinking man’s extreme metal layered with dashes of Germanic cold steel and Swiss surges of cold electricity.

Neil Arnold

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