Venus Star
Setyphorus

August 2012
Released: 2012, Ahdistuksen Aihio Productions
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Metal-Rules.com UK Team

This doom/black metal band hailing from Finland are defiantly one hell of a heavy band! And the dark mastermind behind this is multi instrumentalist Atvar, a one man band in his own right. Now Setyphorus is an album in its own right, the only way I can really describe this album is heavy, slow and interesting. One of the things that really caught my attention with this album and band was the artwork. Such an eye catching piece of art, it really gives you the impression of what this band is really all about.



Now onto the music on the album, it’s disappointing that the actual album itself only last as minuscule 34 minutes, I was hoping for the more sort of hour long albums you get with most doom metal bands. Also when you think of black metal and doom, you tend to think of a band that has some type of hook, but it lacks that in all of its tracks, but still keeps up with the traditional doom style guitaring; slow, heavy tones which I was impressed with. I did get into the opening track “Blessed Abomination” the cool sound effects, Atvar declares “I AM TYPHON!” and the way Atvar carried on with the rest of the song, sadly it was a short number, but it was followed by the catchy “On the Headless Cross”.



Impressively the drums kept up with the doom tone, most people are “it doesn’t give anything to the imagination” or some bollocks like that, but it’s doom, and going at the pace they are, I believe it keeps up with the traditions of a successful doom metal band.



Sadly the vocals didn’t do it for me but that is personal preference, I’m more into the growls and grunts of such bands like “Inverloch” but Atvar keeps up with the black metal side of the album with said screams.



All in all I wish this album was longer and more bass, but I give it a solid 3.5/5 for the fact it’s a good and interesting album.



Review by: Wolf Shankland