Review by Michael on November 3, 2024.

When Jim Mutilator left Rotting Christ after releasing “Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers” back in 1996 this was a huge cut in the musical development of the band. Gone were the epic, highly melodic but yet super evil and dramatic black metal vibes, and with “A Dead Poem” Sakis and Co went into a totally different direction that polarized the scene. Damn, I still remember how disappointed I was when that album came out and quickly sold it again. Maybe I should give it another spin now after almost 30 years, I actually haven't heard it since then. Okay, but so much for the history and the memories of a super old guy dwelling in his armchair with a cup of bitterness in his hands.

Although Yoth Iria mastermind Jim Mutilator never disappeared from the scene and had some guest appearances in some other bands (I guess the Varathron contributions don't count because they're old stuff which was re-released as compilations) he never was too active in the scene until he founded his new bands Medieval Demon and Yoth Iria. Was the first one (“As The Flame Withers”) pretty rough but melodic, we can find some crucial changes here. First of all the vocalist has changed from almighty The Magus to “He”. But also from the sound, a lot of things have changed. So here we go with the second Yoth Iria album which at least for my hairy ears full of earwax sounds very fresh and un-innovative.

Wait, what? Un-innovative? Yes, you got me right! As I already stated in some other reviews for some Greek bands, they all tend to stay in their own timeline which is mainly the early 90s. And this is where Blazing Inferno might have been written as well. The whole arrangements, all the melodies, the instruments remind so much of this decade which was so groundbreaking for the Greek scene that it rouses so many nostalgic feelings in me that my shriveled black heart might cry if it could.

Jim has written a great epos with the songs and to describe them would take so many lines that you would read this review still tomorrow. But to make it a little bit shorter, Blazing Inferno has so many twists and turns that it is almost unbelievable. From epic melodies that sound as if they were written for the Greek gods on Olympus (The title track or 'Our Father Rode Again His Ride' for instance), some pagan tunes like Varathron also had on their last album (“Rites Of Blood And Ice”) to some fast galloping traditional black metal stuff ('Mornings Of The One Thousand Golds'), classic heavy metal riffs or even clear vocals you can find everything here. And of course, there is a lot of catchiness in the songs like in 'Purgatory Revolution'.

And to this the lyrical topic of the album, namely that Gabriel and Yoth Iria (an angel and a demon) joined their forces to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, matches really well. Much more drama is not possible if you have the destruction of two cities before your inner eye.

Well, Blazing Inferno isn't exactly what Jim did back with Rotting Christ or Varathron in the 90s but with every tune you can feel and hear that he still breathes and lives that spirit. He created a very unique and outstanding album which (for me) is probably the best Greek black metal album for years.

Rating: 10 out of 10 burning cities

Review by Jeger on October 30, 2024.

Greece’s Yoth Iria is the brainchild of one Jim Mutilator, most known for his time in the legendary Rotting Christ and Varathron. As of late, this band has risen to a plateau o’er the scene where only the above-mentioned legends dare. That damn good and quite simply the very best of the Greek crop. Diabolical tales of unholy war, odes to Paganism, and dedications to Satan as relayed through the timeless art of rich, melodic Greek black metal. The Greeks are known for their dramatic and oft theatrical ways of recording BM, as opposed to the rougher-around-the-edges Scandinavian product, and if romantic, legend-spawning black metal is your cup of tea, then Yoth Iria is for you. 

Yoth Iria began in 2019, and have thus far released two EPs and one, soon to be two full-length studio LPs - widely-praised and indicative of genius: articulate, melodious, and refined black metal to be taken in solitary under goddess moon and by dancing flames of ritual. Connecting the Ley Lines between what is ritualistic, what is evil, and what is genuinely artistic. And the talent behind the music? Unparalleled. The creative vision preceding their works? Fresh and inspired yet traditional all the same. A gem buried in hallowed soil beneath the mainstream have Yoth Iria been. On November 8, 2024, Yoth Iria will release their highly-anticipated second LP, Blazing Inferno, via Edged Circle Productions. 

The time has come… The time for vailing and for bowing down to the majesty of Greek BM in its ultimate form. In Blazing Inferno, Yoth Iria have created a record to be coveted. Up-and-coming Greek black metal bands should study this record and the legends should as well, because the class, the character, and the esteem exuded here are the stuff of legend. The starkly visual titular track evokes images of war-torn Daemons clinched in battle as Gabriel crumbles Sodom and Gomorrah beneath his might. An eternal grudge match set to soul-stirring melodic passages backed by war-drum type rhythmic cadences and haunting atmospheric chants; an epic as the catalyst to the remainder of what is, in my opinion, one of the greatest black metal albums of 2024 alongside Nachtmystium’s “Blight Privilege”, Wuldorgast’s “Cold Light” and Deus Mortem’s “Thanatos”. Rotting Christ-heralding theatrics and rhythm-driven melodies to be taken in during the following track, 'But Fear Not', and as the atmosphere teems with the folkish sound of woodwinds and angelic backing vocalizations, underneath it all an unholy incursion of blast-beats and rolling guitar riffs ensues. A blessed alternation between evenly spaced martial rhythms and up-tempo beats to drive forward this profound as poetry Greek black metal experience. 

'Purgatory Revolution' marks the halfway point of our journey. Screaming leads and galloping double-bass currents, fires of unholy war unleashed to an anthem of spiritual revolution! Breaking holy bonds of oppression and tearing through the Heavens as the war rages on… Blazing Inferno closes with 'We Call Upon The Elements' - an homage to Paganism accompanied by a stunning visualizer that portrays a ritualist enthralled by nature and enraptured in the presence of The Great Olde Ones. Spells cast in the name of preservation and in honor of Mother Earth. 

Yoth Iria’s presence to once again rekindle ancient fires of remembrance. Forget thee not the ways of olde nor the natural order of our aching world. Black metal for odes and for homages, for harkening and for remembering. Diabolical in nature and as poetic as Shakespeare. Truly one of the finest works to emerge out of the Greek scene in years. Spiritual nourishment that no religion can provide. Experience freedom! The liberation of thought and of spirit. The eternal struggle between light and dark, between good and evil as conveyed through music of ancient proportions. This is Hellenic black metal. This is Yoth Iria… Hail! 

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Vladimir on September 26, 2024.

Among the recent additions to the Hellenic black metal scene, one of the most notable examples is the band Yoth Iria, which is mostly known among fans as the new band of bassist Jim Mutilator of former Rotting Christ and Varathron fame. Although the band is still relatively new and not quite as well-known as some of the other Greek metal bands, especially because they’ve been around since 2019, they are quite fortunate to have gained a highly impressive reputation for the past couple of years, and now they are returning with their second full-length album Blazing Inferno, which is due to be released on November 8th, 2024 via Edged Circle Productions. This is a perfect opportunity for the band to spread their blackened wings even further and purge the skies with their upcoming unholy divinity of an album. If you thought that this year couldn’t get more exciting, even during the second half when it seems like the balls are about to drop, oh boy were you wrong. In case you are asking yourselves why, stick around and you’ll see… 

The title itself truly lives up to its name, because what you seek is what you get, a one big Blazing Inferno that scorches the world beneath it. Yoth Iria presents a massive collection of highly expressive black metal songs with such epic and dark vibes, presented in a traditional Hellenic metal fashion when it comes to the overall execution, with a very effective use of simplistic riffs and melodies that are well integrated in every song structure, further amplified by the harsh dry vocals of Rustam Shakirzyanov (a.k.a. He) and the tight drumming of Vasilis Stavrianidis. Each song on the album is like an individual chapter from a doomsayer’s prophecy, complimented with a very strong atmosphere of dread and doom that builds up to an apocalyptic event which unfolds slowly throughout with the track-by-track progression, while carving these images in your mind where you clearly picture Armageddon itself. If there is one thing that Greek black metal bands are incredibly good at, apart from their generally clever songwriting, it’s the atmosphere in their music, because it’s evidently one of the greatest aspects of Blazing Inferno, as it shines from the very beginning towards the very end. On top of that, the true magic of the songs lies within their power to transport you in another place in another time, because you feel like you’re going back to the Dark Ages with every song on the album, looking back at some of the most gruesome and horrifying historic events that fuel the wake of the forthcoming destruction. Although each track is great in its own way, the most exceptional case for me was 'Mornings Of The One Thousand Golds' that really took the top spot, but I also really love 'Our Father Rode Again His Ride' for having some 90’s Bathory influences mixed with the epic Hellenic black metal elements, as well as 'Rites Of Blood And Ice' for fusing some epic folk elements. The progression of the album certainly works very well with the consistent heaviness and tension, especially with the everlasting strength carried from one song to another, with a couple of notable exceptions along the way that further compliments its overall greatness. With the suspense building up towards the closing track 'We Call Upon The Elements', it pretty much works out so flawlessly that it makes the ending even better, with its conclusion delivering such a grand payoff that the ending feels so right. 

No matter how simplistic the song structures may seem, I still think that the songwriting was well executed with its clever use of ideas that were put to a good use in every song, and I believe that Yoth Iria just wouldn’t allow themselves for anything to go to waste. Although you might get a slight feeling of heavy stylistic consistency between each song on the album, it certainly doesn’t spoil the fun, because the band manages to keep the entire journey interesting at all times and with the musical build-up, they just make things even more entertaining. I think it pretty much goes without saying that this album has so many strengths and qualities that really make it worth a while, so it’s really hard to count all of them if you become so immersed into the beauty of Blazing Inferno. I had a real great time listening to other notable recent Hellenic metal albums like Varathron’s "The Crimson Temple" and Rotting Christ’s "Pro Xristou", but I must say that neither of the two were as highly engaging as this one, because this one is very special in its own right, and although drawing comparisons would be highly unfair of me, I really feel like this one is just so exceptional because of the general goosebumps I got from start to finish. Do I have any flaws to address about this album? Not really, because it’s really that good and mesmerizing you’d wish it lasted longer, but you know what they say, even good things must come to an end. On the final note, I can only add two other great things about Blazing Inferno, the amazing devilish album artwork by the Indian artist Harshanand Singh who was successful in visually capturing the majesty of Yoth Iria’s musical output, as well as the excellent sound production with the mixing and mastering handled by the brilliant work of Lawrence Mackrory.

Out of all the recent Hellenic metal albums I had heard lately, this is without a shadow of a doubt, THE best one, and holy shit what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be. Yoth Iria provided such a brilliant masterwork of atmospheric, epic and melodic black metal that burns twice as high and could not be better described other than with the magnificent album title, Blazing Inferno. It’s an album you must check out if you are into Greek black metal, and make sure you crank it up to eleven and play it loud in all its might and glory.

Rating: 9.3 out of 10