Hilastherion: Taken From Darkness | The Chemistry Of Extreme Metal
(2007 – Maanalainen Levykauppa AY)
Some people say water and oil don’t mix, and so there are substances in the physical world that can never be combined—or that, if mixed, produce explosive results. Let’s just say that studying chemistry was never my thing, but at least we’re able to recognize the combinations that can blow up ears and even the soul itself. Well, I don’t know if it’s that big of a deal, but I think Hilastherion is heading in that direction.
Okay, we agree. This isn’t a new album, and that’s absolutely true, but for us it is, since we just received it and are encountering this material for the first time—and we found it to be among the most interesting. Indeed, “Taken From Darkness” is available not only on digital platforms but also in physical format (I’d tell you to hurry, as there must be only a few copies left), and it is nothing less than the first official album by Hilastherion, an Extreme Metal band hailing from distant, cold Finland—one of the best hotbeds for Metal—and, as if it were no big deal, they’re still active.
Hilastherion’s sound is a dangerous combination, and explosive at the same time. It takes a bit of Death Metal—on which most of their songs are based—but with influences ranging from Black Metal and even heavily incorporating German-style Thrash Metal rather than the American variety. All embellished with a pretentious touch of classical and orchestral elements that give a masterful air to everything that is “Taken From Darkness.”
Hilastherion seems like a totally frenzied and insane madness, but done with very good taste and even a certain intriguing touch, one might say. So, right off the bat, we find “Sick And Rotten World,” a track where the riffs fly through unexpected chords and notes, with a foundation somewhere between Death and Thrash Metal, featuring guttural vocals, and a clear inclination toward the classical elements of the composition itself.
And yes, composition based on classical music is one of the main focuses of Hilastherion, and that becomes clear in “See The Pain In This Face,” with a foundation of heavy riffs and background keyboards that give the entire song a distinctive atmosphere. “Jesus Rules” is next, and while it essentially maintains what Hilastherion proposes on this album, the track takes on a much more epic feel.
“Why (Song Of Despair)” has an unmistakable connection to the roots of Death Metal, but perhaps it’s a bit more technical, with riffs that lean more toward Power Metal, you could say. The soaring guitar and keyboard solos are a real gem, and what can be said about the speed? Hilastherion goes all out the whole time, but here their speed is paired with a masterful handling of different riffs and rhythms, maintaining the same vibe in “A Sinner’s Song of Desperation,” a track that makes the melody and the rhythms—quite gloomy, by the way—a great combination to produce one of the album’s finest moments.
In “Battle Of The Flesh,” the shift in mood is more than evident. In a more relaxed vibe and with the feel of a mid-tempo epic ballad, Hilastherion affirms its affinity for the combination of extreme riffs and classic melodies, but the speed and blast beat rhythm make their presence felt again in “Save My Soul,” staying in line with the rest of the album.
“Taken From Darkness” is much more than just the title track of this album. It is a meticulous, extreme-style interpretation of a piece that actually seems to have its origins in a sort of cross between traditional heavy metal and power metal, but Hilastherion takes things to a sound much closer to black metal, one might say. With “Judgement Day,” the connection to traditional, hard-hitting metal takes on another form, crafted from sharp yet melodic and orchestral riffs; it’s nothing short of madness, you might say.
Near the end comes “A Fallen One,” a track built on riffs and keyboards with a Viking and epic influence, showcasing Hilastherion’s versatility in composition, with plenty of intensity and drive in its content. In contrast, the final track, “Story Of John,” feels more like an epilogue; built on a heavy, low-end riff and moving at a moderate pace, the song in question hides within it a beautiful melody that becomes a lovely expression attempting to somehow combine all the elements Hilastherion has drawn upon throughout most of the album—and it is even the only track where we can hear clean vocals, in a sort of cry. Its lengthy runtime (just over 11 minutes!) makes it the perfect epilogue.
In addition to being one of Niclas Buss’s projects (who is also behind Parakletos and Northern Flame), Hilastherion retains an essence that sets it apart from the other projects in which Buss is involved, while essentially maintaining that penchant for classical music and influences from everything related to Nordic music.
Even so, Hilastherion is hard to explain or describe. There’s a little bit of everything here, but with a foundation centered on thrash and death metal riffs blended with chords and melodies clearly influenced by classical music. On top of that, Hilastherion incorporates different sounds and styles that somehow make “Taken From Darkness” an interesting work from both a musical and interpretive standpoint.
The sound production may not be the best, and the mix doesn’t seem to blend the various guitar sounds with the orchestral and keyboard parts as well as it could. As for the percussion, it gets a bit lost at times amid the overwhelming force of the guitars, and perhaps because of all this, the songs occasionally lose a bit of their sonic brilliance.
In any case, what “Taken From Darkness” offers is not your everyday fare. Their approach is original enough to warrant a listen, and what’s interesting is that the rhythm and intensity shift as you listen to the album, rounding out what can be described as a solid album.
As for the artwork, we have a truly spectacular design, with a vibe that’s somewhere between dark and gothic. Even the booklet that comes with this CD continues that same theme, successfully capturing in the illustrations an atmosphere that fits Hilastherion’s style. Of course, the lyrics are included, centered on Christian themes without falling into any clichés—quite the opposite.
As we mentioned earlier, and in addition to being available on digital platforms, “Taken From Darkness” is still available in physical format at some of the labels and distributors we always mention, so this is a great opportunity to get your hands on Hilastherion’s debut album.
As always, here’s a taste of what Hilastherion is all about, and this album in particular. More specifically, the track “See The Pain In The Face,” and of course, here are the band’s social media links so you can follow them and see what they’re up to….
https://www.facebook.com/hilastherionofficial
https://www.instagram.com/hilastherionband
