Review by Felix on February 22, 2026.

I do not reveal a secret when saying that Greece holds some black metal bands whose brand essence is not a particularly extreme form of the genre. Their dark brew is often fueled by the mystical, the occult, and the melancholic. Rotting Christ or Yoth Iria can be mentioned in this context, and the compass of Varathron recommends a similar direction. They paint their black metal picture with rather discreet colours. This does not rule out that the band shies away from fast-paced parts or a high degree of intensity. Tracks like the very convincing 'Into The Absurd' show the rough and pretty brutal edge of Varathron’s art. But generally speaking, “Patriarchs Of Evil” does not intend to break new records in terms of aggression and grimness. It is preferred to approach the task at hand with style and dignity—in this respect, the cover is well suited, having been given just a touch of colour to even out the contrast between light and dark.

The production follows the dogma of elegant restraint as well. The album from 2018, the sixth in the long history of the once pioneering formation, does not work like a kick in the teeth. It is less direct, and the guitars have a comparatively light sound. The overall impression of the technical implementation is still fine, because the guys avoid severe mistakes. Nevertheless, a slightly darker sound would have been a better frame for the tracks, at least in my humble opinion. But this is Varathron and not Sad – Greece holds a lot of facets when it comes to black metal.

By the way, is this really black metal? Or is it “only” a form of dark, more or less traditional metal with pretty complex song arrangements? To be honest, a piece like “Remnants of the Dark Testament” spreads goth vibes (in my humble opinion, I am definitely no goth expert – and this will never change). Anyway, “goth vibes” is no compliment, I know. But it is also not a deal-breaker, because Varathron are able to lend their songs a shady depth, even when they perform almost archaic types of riffs (at the beginning of “Hellwitch”). I am missing a bit of the hellishly insane bitterness or intensity that usually fascinates me about black metal. Instead, Varathron integrate emotional, almost dreamy parts in this song, before finally an outburst of high speed takes control. The contrast between the different parts makes me realise that I have a weakness for their speedy sequences, and this surely explains why I count “Saturnian Sect” among the highlights of the album. It is driven by a hard-working drummer, but even (or especially) in its high velocity sequences, it offers an attractive melody. A few solemn elements complete the picture of a really strong example of Varathron’s music.

Summing up, “Patriarchs of Evil” is a good album, maybe suffering from an overdose of maturity, but never calculated or inauthentic. It does not run out of breath, as evidenced by the late “Orgasmic Nightmares by the Arch Desecrator”, a track which does not lack a voluminous, unholy mood. Of course, we do not get an ice-cold atmosphere and endless forests do not appear before my inner eye, but a flickering candle in a dimly lit room of an old castle. Varathron stand for stylish black metal, and they celebrate their approach in a competent manner. Thus, I recommend this full-length to those who enjoy a sinister yet relatively mild approach, including some melodies that creep forward like a hungry reptile (with a melancholic glance).

Rating: 7.4 out of 10