Hilastherion: Signs Of The End | With Stable Vital Signs
(2014 – Die And Gain Records)
Thanks to the kindness of Niclas Buss, we’d already had the chance to enjoy Hilastherion’s debut album, and now it’s time for their second album, “Signs Of The End”—a work in which the band definitely delves deeper into the unique style they pioneered on “Taken From Darkness”, their first album, but with some nuances that are worth analyzing.
If we already thought that blend of extreme Metal and classical music—drawing on elements from various subgenres—was an explosive combination, here Hilastherion takes it much further, grounding their beautiful melodies and harmonies in territory closer to classic Metal and even progressive Power Metal, while maintaining that Death/Black Metal lean with the now-characteristic guttural vocals, shared equally between Niclas Buss and William Rönn—who split vocal duties evenly, just as they did on the first album—in a style very much in the vein of At The Gates or Dark Tranquility, or even Children of Bodom.
In any case, Hilastherion essentially retains those qualities that set it apart from the rest, but particularly with regard to “Sign Of The End”, there’s a much greater sense of precision and less rambling than on “Taken From Darkness”. A precise, in-your-face attack, with tracks that fit much better into a much more precise mold—without so much orchestral pretension—is what Hilastherion offers on this album.
This is evident from the start with the fast and precise “Path Of Victory”, where a much simpler, more direct structure—with certain echoes of power metal—is apparent, and this trend is confirmed by “Prayer,” whose riffs and accompanying keyboards lead us through a harmonic structure that is less climatically dense than on their previous album.
However, “My Burden” seems to retrace previous steps, and with a denser atmosphere, Hilastherion brings us back to darker sounds, and a certain gothic and classical flair, in a beautiful piece featuring a stunning orchestral arrangement of guitars that envelops one of the album’s best tracks, only to immediately follow up with the fast-paced and classic “Desert”, showcasing the band’s signature technical prowess on guitar—in riffs, rhythm work, and solos alike—just as Hilastherion has come to be known for.
“Martyrs” feels like something else entirely; at a moderate pace and with a vibe closer to 1990s Swedish melodic Death Metal, it breaks quite sharply from the album’s overall mood, bursting in at just the right moment and revealing a different side of Hilastherion—which, however, doubles down with “Pain,” featuring a much darker and denser atmosphere, solid foundations, and plenty of melody.
With “Course Of Ruin,” Hilastherion opts for much lower-pitched riffs, injecting speed and varying tempos, setting aside melody in favor of a much more extreme approach, while “Through You” takes on an epic quality, with guitar arrangements whose harmonies and melodies transport us to much more musically ambitious territory.
But the pinnacle of Hilastherion’s creativity and genius is found precisely in the final track, which brings the album to a close: “Signs Of The End.” Not only does it give the album its title, but it also stands out as an epic piece lasting over 14 minutes in which the band showcases the very best it has to offer—all its virtuosity, their penchant for classical and orchestral-sounding chords, all interwoven with fast and furious riffs, along with the band’s signature orchestrations and guitar solos that draw us into a story centered on the end of history from a Christ-centered and Christian perspective, yet unfolding in various sections with the tone of an epic and grand narrative.
It seems that in “Signs Of The End,” two versions of Hilastherion coexist. On one hand, there’s the side that leans more toward fast-paced sections and Power Progressive-style riffs, and on the other, the side that opts for lower registers and a more pronounced approach to melodic Death Metal, very much in the Swedish style, but throughout it all, there’s a common thread: the unique style Hilastherion has imbued in their music, which we’d already noticed on their previous album, “Taken From Darkness.”
What’s different is the decision to create a more direct album—one that’s not as overloaded and sounds much more natural, without as many arrangements—though the title track, “Signs Of The End,” could very well serve as the link between the two works.
The sound plays a crucial role, revealing a much simpler side as well—toning down the orchestral elements slightly and ramping up the guitar presence. The vocal work also showcases a much more elaborate and raw side, adding that touch of extremity that is absolutely essential for a band like Hilastherion.
As for the artwork, the cover isn’t particularly original, though it does fit perfectly with the album’s theme. What’s really good is the interior design of the booklet and its graphic quality, which is very pleasing. The album was released only on CD and in the usual digital formats. A vinyl release in the future wouldn’t be a bad idea.
It’s hard to say whether this album is better than “Taken From Darkness” or vice versa. That comes down to each listener’s personal taste, but if we highlight some differences, “Signs Of The End” is a work in which simplicity and directness seem to take precedence over musical pretentiousness. It’s not that Hilastherion’s orchestral and classical elements have disappeared entirely; rather, they coexist with a more direct and raw reality.
Since it’s an album released in 2014, it’s hard to find original, physical copies of “Signs Of The End”, but it’s still possible to track one down—though I’d advise keeping an eye out, as there probably aren’t many left. In any case, we’ve included the link below where you can find it, as well as the band’s social media accounts—the band is still around and going strong—and we’ll see if there’s anything planned for the future…
In the meantime, “Path Of Victory”, the first track from “Signs Of The End”, plays below, so you can get a first listen to this excellent extreme Metal album…
https://www.nordicmission.net/products/hilastherion-signs-of-the-end2
https://www.facebook.com/hilastherionofficial
https://www.instagram.com/hilastherionband
