(Pitch Black Records) Total Time : 49:50
This is the debut album by Diphtheria from Cyprus. The band was formed back in 1993 and their debut demo Living To Die was released back in 1994, with Promo 95 and Promo 99 to be their next releases. They have also participated in two compilation CDs: the first one back in 1997 entitled BloodBrothers –a comp CD including bands from Cyprus- and the second entitled Children Of The Damned which was an Iron Maiden tribute by Adrenaline Records. There was a long period of silence until 2003 when they managed to record the stuff of this album. As it usually happens with all the good bands and good releases we have to reach 2008 in order for this magnificent album to face the light of the day, finally re-mastered by Stathis Pavladis (Reflection). The new album includes 8 new recordings (5 of which are brand new songs) and it also includes 2 bonus tracks – “Living to Die” and “God Wanted (Apply Here)” from Promo ’95.
Diphtheria represents in their own unique way a brilliant mixture of Power Metal and Epic Doom Metal. In their music we can hear both slow and heavy as hell riffing together with pounding and clear Power Metal themes. You can add to all these the great work that has been done in the guitar leads and of course the angelic voice of Nicholas Leptos (Arryan Path, Prodigal Earth). In all the songs despite the unstoppable power that drives the listener straight into head banging, there is a strange and beautiful melancholic touch. A mixture of sadness and anger painted in dark colors but expressed in a strong and mysterious way that in the end of the day someone can describe only with two words: HEAVY METAL.
The most spectacular feature of this band is their songwriting ability. They got skillful and talented musicians, they got a greater than great voice and a professional attitude. But those features can be found in other bands as well (if you search a little). O the other hand I guess that there are only a few bands that are able to compose songs that would stick into your mind, that would provide you with an unknown esoteric force –is this the key to bang your head?-, but the same time would make you want to close your eyes and simply sing the lyrics. This is inspiration my friends and I have written it many times that we are passing through days that are marked with lack of inspiration in our favorite music –especially in its mainstream part-. Well Diphtheria are not suffering for this disease. But they belong to underground and their album is released 15 years after their formation… If you focus into this you would understand what I am writing about.
I am listening the record from the beginning to the end. So do not ask me to pick favorite songs from here. It is one of those times that a record includes 10 songs –like the good old days when you were able to tape the entire album into a 60 minutes TDK cassette- and all those 10 songs are brilliant. But on the good old days when a record included 10 brilliant songs we were giving this little fight to find the original and leave the tape to collect dust. Now anyone can order the record with just a simple click on the label’s site so forget the tapes and the CD-rs and give your support to a band that have offered to you music with soul by getting their CD and pouting it into a high place on your collection.
Enough written. The record is magnificent, it includes inspired and classified Power / Doom Metal, well produced and presented through a great artwork and package. There is also a match included to light your first (or last) candle to keep you company while you listen…it could be useful cause like Diphtheria sings: god is light, god is dead.
