Description
Ardenti Crucis “Deeper The Thoughts, Darker The Fear” LP
The debut album by this dark/death punk band from Thessaloniki, Greece. Elements of old school European hardcore buried beneath swathes of darkwave post-punk, the vocals are angry and (sound like) they might lean towards the political/protest , (although translations of the song titles seem to indicate dramatic goth leanings). The heavy atmosphere is enhanced by the use of synths and doubled-up vocal refrains (occasional echoes of Amebix’s synth moments). Greek comparisons – Chain Cult immediately come to mind, but mixed (in the vocals especially) with the desperation and urgency of Anti Mob (ooph, what a great pairing!). More wordly comparisons – Poison Ruin, (along with other Relapse bands on the dark-punk trip), plus some old school Killing Joke (which crosses over into the aforementioned Amebix vibe). All in all, a winning combination of influences, none of which interfere too heavily with their sense of uniqueness or originality; and another classy-as-fuck slice of underground Greek glory.
