Katavasia - Invoking The Spirit Of Doom 7"

Labels: Iron Bonehead Productions

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 01 Oct 2021

Tracklist:

1. Descending To Acheron

2. Premonition Of Doom

Black metal has been a staple of the Greek extreme metal community for time immemorial (it seems), From the Hellenic tomes of Rotting Christ and Varathron to the modern day approaches of Caedes Cruenta, Dodsferd and Ithaqua, the sub-genre has very much found a home on the warm Aegean/Ionian shores. Katavasia formed in 2014 and they've been very productive since then. Between 2015 and the end of 2020, they released two full-lengths and an EP. Their work ethic remained in tact during the pandemic and last year they released their latest EP 'Invoking The Spirit Of Doom' via Iron Bonehead Productions. Limited to 500 copies on two different variants, it contains two songs stretching to nearly ten minutes in length.

I still think the 7” format is under appreciated. Yes it may be more expensing to press songs onto it than onto a 12” record nowadays, but there’s a lot of nostalgia attached to it. That’s why it’s nice to see that both Katavasia and Iron Bonehead Productions committed to it for the Invoking The Spirit Of Doom EP. Starting with ‘Descending To Acheron’, the EP is a raw beast that has icy black metal at it’s heart. It’s instrumentation hits hard with a war metal-like approach of driving percussion and thrashing guitars, though there are some subtle orchestral synths buried in the mix too. The vocals are full of character and they help to bring the release to life. 

Second song 'Premonition Of Doom' is very rhythmic as well as being pacier. I’m not sure whether that’s a trick of the ear but Katavasia seem more dialled in here. The bass is more audible and it adds a lot of depth to their music, while there are elements of death metal and heavy metal woven in too. I know that this EP is brief and it does end abruptly just when you’re getting into it’s groove, but that’s kind of the point. You don’t get burnt out listening to it, in fact it leaves you wanting more. Katavasia’s black metal is entertaining from start to finish. This EP is perfect if you’re discovering them for the first time. 

FFO: Rotting Christ, Varathron, Caedes Cruenta, Ithaqua, Havukruunu

You can stream Invoking The Spirit Of Doom and purchase it digitally/on vinyl directly from Katavasia below:-

You can also buy physical vinyl copies from Iron Bonehead Productions below:-

https://shop.ironbonehead.de/

Katavasia - https://www.facebook.com/katavasiaofficial

Iron Bonehead Productions - https://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions