Review by JD on March 16, 2011.

I remember one of this German outfit other albums ("Ashes Of Existence") that I reviewed a few years back. I recall that I was confused with the album. There was this feel of pure magic, but the band had not brought that to the forefront to show the great talent they have, they seemed musically flat. Now with the release of their EP "In The Wake Of My Demise" I see if they have finally got it right.

Mixing the power of Children Of Bodom with smatterings of Iron Maiden and Technocracy and a wee bit of Nightwish and Melodic Death Metal they come out sounding fresh and better than ever. With melodies that soar and pounding rhythms that explode out they finally find their form and now are what they have been trying for. They may use the influences of all of these bands and more, but they have developed a sound that is unique and powerful out of using their God given talents.

This four song EP is amazing, aside from being way too short, proving that bands that strive to get better do. BOL clearly are a band that has come into their own and are handing the metal world a small slice of heaven. It was exactly what I had been wishing the band to do, but they have surpassed even my hopes. Each song is a gem, and will just get better with each play.

Buy or die is so 80's but fits here. This is a EP that is so good, you can overlook the fact that this was a EP to begin with. It is just another step for Burden Of Life rise to the metal apex. Truly, this is a album that really delivers some of the best metal, and is better than their last album by leaps and bounds. Just go out and buy the thing, ok?

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality:8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.0 out of 10

Review by Felix on April 13, 2022.

I lost the trace of Acherontas some years ago. As far as I remember, Amenti was much weaker than its predecessor. Vamachara had been a kind of promise from my point of view, an album that had given me the feeling this band could create something really big. Drama, intensity, triumph and everything else was combined skilfully. The music bordered on perfection every now and then. To take the final step seemed to be a matter of course, but Amenti proved the opposite.

Now, almost ten years later, Acherontas is back on my radar. Why? The answer is simple. Malocchio… is the album I expected after Vamachara. It spreads fascinating occult vibes and has a close eye on atmosphere. Yet this is not to say that heaviness comes off badly. The voluminous production guarantees a firm and steely foundation. Even a few almost dreamy parts do not sound saccharine in view of the more or less immaculate mix. But one can also expect a good sound. After all, Greece has survived its national bankruptcy of 2008. So there should be enough money for a decent metal production. And this is what we get here: thundering guitars, vigorous drums and non-sterile keyboards. Not to mention the passionate vocals that shine with a high degree of variety. Narrative parts, fervent screams, commanding speeches and throaty shouts, all these approaches can be found here. They reflect the different facets of the complex but not inaccessible tunes. Finally, the lamenting vocals at the beginning of 'Belial – The End Of Beliya’al' add an extraordinary oriental flavour.

Severity and melancholy shake hands during the 45 minutes, but the music never melts into self-pity. Songs like 'Satan – Exaltation Of Unbeing' take the listener on an intensive, stirring voyage. If you do not like this kind of rather melodic black metal, you should stay away from Malocchio and I admit that one or two solos are a bit too emotional for my taste. Nevertheless, if black metal is more for you than just the (of course great) icicle melodies from Scandinavia, you will like almost every second of the material. It sounds as if each musician of Acherontas has put his individuality in this work and thus it is almost logical that we receive a convincing album. The grandeur of 'Hecate – Queen Of The Crossroads', expressed especially in the fast sequences, recalls the best moments of sophisticated German forces like Geïst or Nagelfar (the latter, unfortunately, didn't have many of them).

The stylish artwork underlines that the Greeks do not intend to deliver a half-baked product. Everything is meticulously arranged, even though the absolute smasher, the song I want to hear again and again, is missing. So what? Malocchio transports spirituality, mysticism and authenticity and these features make the music to a kind of soundtrack for an occult ritual. From now on, Acherontas will get my attention again – together with roughly 1,979 further bands.

Rating: 7.8 out of 10