Year: 2020
Total Time: 40:28
Label: Soulseller Records
Timaeus. A philosophic dialogue written by famous ancient Greek philosopher Plato which is more or less a continuity of Politeia especially in the resume of the last five parts where we have the same content. The percebtibles belong to the world of Genesis thus they are created. Every created substance has it’s cause. The creator is the cause of the aesthetic world and his works, as every craftman, are based on a pattern. The creator, as the topnotch, has chosen the pattern whose ability to sum every kind of beauty and perfection makes it outmatch in quality, therefore is unchanged and eternal. The aesthetic world has been created as the image of the optimal and eternal pattern.
According to Plato, “Khora” is the definition of indeterminacy. According to modern Greek philosopher Kornilios Kastoriadis if our world was oriented to Plato’s khora and not cohesive as it is, then every kind of thought and science would be unattainable. KHORA is also a multinational group which released in 2016 their demo “Malenkij Robot” ( a term which used by the Hungarians for their enslavement and forced labor in the Soviet Union during the Second World War) and in 2020 their debut album” Tiameus”.
KHORA is self-identifying as an extreme metal band and the least that I can do is to agree with them. Atmospheric Black Metal, Progressive Metal with a variation of technical and orchestral themes. The guests in this album are many and significant. Arnhwald (GLACIATION, DEATHCORE) in “Noceo” chants and screams to relentless and unholy entities and creatures. Nordvang (NATTSOL, QUADRIVIUM) is creating dark ,ritualistic atmospheres with his keyboards in the opening track “Aether” and in “ L’Annihilateur”, where we can also see Frederic Gervais (ORAKLE) and late producer of MISANTHROPE and IN THE WOODS, whose operatic voice gives an alternate dimension to the song. Responsible for the bass lines is L.E Maloy (DDHEIMSGARD), his presence adds thick volume and skilful ability. Speaking of DODHEIMSGARD his great majesty Vikotnik (stay tuned for his upcoming interview in the gallery.gr) participates with his voice in “Existence” showing the fact that KHORA have been affected by DODHEIMSGARD’s greatness. Keyboardists Henri Sorvali (FINNTROLL) and Annti Simonen (…AND OCEANS) are closing the curtain of the guests. All the participants are guided amazingly by KHORA’s mastermind,Oleg L who plays almost all instruments along with his bandmate, keyboardist Vassilis Kranos responsible for the vocals and sampling.
“Timaeus” is full of melody, complex but brief synthesies without being tiresome and a great sonic variation. I would say, arbitrarily and forgive me about it, that KHORA are mixing the guitar melodies of NAGLFAR, the avant-garde approach by ARCTURUS and VULTURE INDUSTRIES and the dark optic of DODHEIMSGARD. This recording requires many hearings because every time you discover things that you didn’t hear before. One more dynamic debut of Atmospheric Black Metal from a band whose next musical and lyric step I am waiting for with interest and fertile questioning.
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: KHORA – Facebook Page
