Review by Felix on February 12, 2022.

Seid are back with their second album. We are not speaking about a one-man-project any longer and maybe this could be one of the reasons why Darkness Shall Fall marks a positive step for the formation. The band still plays a fairly melodic type of black metal, but the guys deliver a higher degree of energy. Already the hovering guitar lines of the fast-paced opener show the newly gained power. The Swedes have found a good balance between velocity and atmosphere and this is always a solid fundament for a full-length of the black sub genre.

Darkness Shall Fall does not impress with an opulent design. Five tracks, an acoustic interlude (relatively superfluous, if you ask me) and an outro shape a rather lean work. Nevertheless, a duration of 35 minutes is acceptable and, better still, it seems as if the band was able to concentrate on the really important things. The compact configuration avoids repetitive structures and fosters a compact overall impression. Due to mostly strong melodies, the songs have a certain depth. 'Valkyria Horizon', for example, evokes an almost melancholic feeling while bordering on pagan metal. But don't worry. The tune is equipped with some atmospheric background vocals, but it is light years away from any kind of oh so funny "ohooohooo" Viking grunts. In general terms, Seid have kept an eye on multifaceted vocals. Of course, the raw and masculine grumbling prevails, but clean and slightly heroic voices or whispered wisdoms show up as well. In short, there is nothing wrong with the vocal performance.

Seid seems to consist of typical Swedish musicians. This assumption is particularly based on the fact that Darkness Shall Fall reflects a high degree of maturity. Debuts and second works from Norway or Finland often express a loutish behaviour, for better or for worse. By contrast, the Swedes mostly combine harshness and musicality in a very convincing manner - and Seid are no exception in this context. Their compositions have a good flow and they are comprehensible at any time. Moreover, the production matches this musical approach. It is robust and transparent without bowing to some unwritten laws of the black metal underground. This means that the listener is not confronted with an enthusiastic yet technically ill-defined storm. Some might say that they are missing edgy elements, but from my point of view, everything works. Even the keyboards are acceptable, but rest assured, they do not play a main role.

Maybe a small number of surprising twists and turns would be able to enrich the next work of the band, because its sound does not deliver a unique feature. Admittedly, 99% of the actual formations do not possess such a feature and maybe I am setting the bar too high. Nevertheless, I wish the guys have the courage to sharpen their musical profile. Neither the album title nor the lyrical concentration on the Nordic mythology can be considered as highly original. Anyway, Darkness Shall Fall is definitely worth listening to. Mega-fans of mid-harsh, fairly emotional black metal can add five or ten percentage points and should give it a try.

Rating: 7.2 out of 10

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

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