ALBUM REVIEW: As The Flame Withers – Yoth Iria

Much like the frozen north in Norway and Sweden, the shores of Greece has been a hotbed of black metal since the genre’s inception. Joining the storied ranks of ROTTING CHRIST, VARATHRON and KAWIR at the top of the Greek black metal scene this year is new project, YOTH IRIA. Formed in 2019 by two legends of the Greek black metal scene – Jim Mutilator (ex ROTTING CHRIST, ex VARATHRON, MEDIEVAL DEMON) and The Magus (ex ROTTING CHRIST, THOU ART LORD, NECROMANTIA) – the duo released their debut EP last year to underground acclaim. 2021, however, sees the outfit release their debut full length – their first full body of work, and an opening statement for the band’s career. But does As the Flame Withers show YOTH IRIA as another band to watch, or will it be lost in the churning tides of an ever-evolving, ever-growing international black metal scene? 

Black metal has evolved from a sub-genre of heavy metal into a fully fledged genre in its own right, with countless branches coming from its blackened roots. For the more grandiose minded, there is atmospheric, melodic and symphonic black metal a la SAOR, DISSECTION and DIMMU BORGIR. For those who value brutality above all, the blackened death metal of HATE, the war metal of ARCHGOAT and raw black metal stylings of the early Norwegian scene are all perfect choices.

And for those who want a taste of old-school rock and metal in their blasphemy, the likes of MIDNIGHT, BEWITCHER and HELLRIPPER all offer a black n roll, blackened speed metal style that is far more fun than it has any right to be. Whether it comes down to a lack of identity, being such a new band, or having too many ideas and the ambition to try them all, YOTH IRIA somehow manage to hit almost every one of these subgenres across As the Flame Withers.

Now variety is the spice of life – YOTH IRIA have managed to deliver a record where every track completely stands out, and let’s not mince words; when they hit it right they absolutely bring the thunder. The Great Hunter is a riotous opening gambit, melodeath riffing mixing in wonderfully with a melodic black metal onslaught. Lyrically intriguing, atmospherically hard hitting, it is a wonderful jumping off point for the record and a strong introduction for YOTH IRIA. The band’s eponymous track and Herematic Code follow suit, the former bringing in some influence from IRON MAIDEN‘s more mystical works in the leads and melodies to fantastic effect, while Herematic Code carries a sense of urgency – in spite of its slower tempo – and a generally more melodious approach.

It’s around the middle section of As the Flame Withers things get a bit unfocussed. The Mantis has a long, haunting intro that implies a set up to a wonderful display of atmospheric blackened death metal – a display that, unfortunately, never comes. Rather, YOTH IRIA take a clumsy transition into black and roll territory. It’s a jarring juxtaposition to the grander, melody driven opening triplet and when symphonic/atmospheric elements come into play towards the end of the track, it feels more forced than anything. The Red Crown Turns Black is almost a mirror opposite, starting with some fantastic old-school black metal before cutting the tempo dramatically. Its a frustrating song, as there is so much brilliance there for much of the run time, its just a few poorly executed ideas that mar it. Similarly, Unborn, Undead, Eternal misses the mark – its doomier, more atmospheric pacing not a bad idea in principle, but the execution is lacking, putting a halt to much of the momentum the duo have established thus far.

Things even out for the closing duo, though. Penultimate track Tyrants brings a hauntingly atmospheric, doomy sound back into play, to far greater effect than achieved on the previous outings. Right from the opening bars, there is an unsettling feeling to Tyrants that rises throughout, the simple riffing approach giving the track a ritualistic vibe while stunning lead and melody work dominates the undercurrents. This leads nicely into the closing offering, The Luciferian, easily one of the stand out moments on the record. Here, we see YOTH IRIA‘s atmospherics at its best, that haunted feeling from Tyrants ramping up before the duo bring As the Flame Withers to a thunderous close.

To say As the Flame Withers is an ambitious album would be a criminal understatement. With a combined total of almost 60 years experience, 23 LPs and countless demos/EP releases, Mutilator and The Magus have a wealth of experience that they both bring to the table – and herein lies both the greatest strength and harshest flaw of YOTH IRIA‘s debut. When As the Flame Withers hits, it hits hard delivering unique soundscapes and wonderful ideas. Unfortunately, for every stunning display of artistry, there is an idea that just doesn’t come off. The desire to make the band a unique outfit channelling influences from across the musical spectrum is an admirable one, but consistency will be key if YOTH IRIA is to be regarded with the same degree of reverence as their genre forefathers.

Rating: 7/10

As the Flame Withers is out now via Pagan Records. 

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