Reviewed: January 2022
Released: 2021, Metal Blade Records
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Demitri Levantis
Where Everything Begun, better known in the black metal world as WEB have returned with their fifth studio release, Colosseum. As someone who has a keen affinity for the Greek black metal scene, I find this band to be one of the more iconic of the country’s symphonic black metal divisions.
This album is no exception in making the group stand as a leader in such division, as they exercise the symphonic black metal maturity that put them on a par with Italy’s Fleshgod Apocalypse and Emperor – the fathers of said division.
Colosseum opens with “Dark Web,” a fittingly dark descent into symphonic chaos which reminded me of the darker side of the internet where such bands might look for inspiration in their horrific influences. Then, by the time you’ve moved onto “Murder of Crows” and the title track, you know this is one memorable tome of darkness.
I’d say this was a fine exercise in the band’s versatile range with changing male and female vocals, plus the orchestration arranged by SepticFlesh’s Chrstos Antoniou. Having an experienced Greek like him at the helm of the band’s extravagance really held this album together.
If you’re a fan of SepticFlesh or Cradle of Filth and want to see how good Greece’s symphonic black metal world is raging at the moment, check out WEB as they’ve concocted a memorable album to represent their nation’s symphonic might.
Tracklisting:
1. Dark Web
2. Murder of Crows
3. Pentalpha
4. Colosseum
5. Dominus Maleficarum
6. Necrology
7. Ensanguined
8. Exaudi Luciferi
9. December 13th
Band line-up:
Sakis Prekas – Vocals, guitars
Sextus A. Maximus – Guitars
Nikitas Mandolas – Drums
Hel Pyre – Bass, vocals (backing)
Band Websites:
Metal Blade Records
Facebook
Bandcamp
