Review by George Stiglic on November 11, 2024.

The Greek metal scene stands out due to its unique sound, which is hard to mistake for anything else. Primal Cult's album Perennial Fire left a strong impression on me from the first listen. The opening track, 'War, Father,' immediately sets the tone for what awaits the listener—mid-tempo, epic, and high-quality material. There’s a clear influence from Rotting Christ, especially in the melodies and epic sections. This Hellenic melodicism is presented here in its finest form, sure to appeal to fans of Greek metal.

According to information on Metal Archives, the main songwriter is a female guitarist named Alchemy, and I must say the quality of her compositions is very high. I’m rather picky; my main criteria for judging music are its listenability and memorability. This album meets those standards well, grabbing attention from the first seconds. The final solo in 'War, Father' could even become one of my favorite melodic solos in extreme metal, alongside 'December Flower' by In Flames and 'Revelation 666' by Necrophobic. The solo is something special, with its guitar parts beautifully interwoven with the rhythm guitar. Bravo! The album also has relatively fast-paced moments; for instance, the opening riff in 'The Chthonic' is dynamic, played with palm muting, showcasing impressive technique. But the band’s real strength, in my view, lies in their black metal-style melodic tremolo riffs, with certain notes that truly hit the soul. Occasionally, keyboards appear in the music—choirs or orchestral elements—but they don’t play a dominant role, instead enhancing the epic moments. Everything is done organically, fitting perfectly into place.

If I had to critique anything, it would be the vocal style. Personally, I feel that this type of singing, performed with true vocal cords, while it adds a dramatic layer to the music, doesn’t quite suit my taste. I would have preferred something closer to Sakis Tolis’s vocal style. But I wouldn’t call this a major drawback—it's more a matter of preference. I recommend this album to all fans of the Greek scene and, in fact, to anyone who appreciates quality metal!

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by Kostas on November 11, 2024.

I always loved seeing new bands forming and releasing innovative and groundbreaking music. Apparently, Primal Cult managed to do even more than that. I am talking about the band's first full-length, Perennial Fire. An album that proved that I was more than right to have high expectations after seeing the band live and listening to their EP.

The album gives you an idea of what the music is going to sound like from the very first second since there are no introductions. What there is instead is the great melodic rift of 'War, Father'. Fortunately, this is going to be followed by numerous other rifts which are just as good, if not better. Melodic, dark, and atmospheric, they bear the spirit of the Hellenic black metal scene deep inside. There are great solos, as well, but under no circumstances will they brutalize you or make you want to enter a pit. They are slow, for the most part, and sinister. I would say, in addition, that they totally match the howling voice, which manages to invoke a feeling of forgotten awe and glory. All in all, a really good job has been done with the guitars and vocals.

One thing I have to mention is the use of keyboards. Played the right way, their calm yet epic melodies manage to take the music to the next level. To be accurate, alongside the aforementioned original catchy rifts, they are the key to the unparalleled aura Primal Cult conveys. Some kind of haunting musical mastery, which is also the outcome of amazing bass lines and drumming. What caught me by surprise is how this band managed to release such a good album so early in their hopefully large discography. I even caught myself trying to find a bad element or something, but still, I was only able to spot some minor unneeded repetitions. Even the lyrics are very well-written and clever. Thumbs up.

In conclusion, Perennial Fire is an outstanding album even for people whose cup of tea is not black metal. There is an epic feeling to it, as well as classic heavy metal influences. In addition, this album is an example of how a band can be original even if they don't necessarily play a new genre. Plus, it has a great cover artwork. Primal Cult have now made me curious to see if they'll be able to overcome this modern masterpiece.

Rating: 9.3 out of 10