End of All Live and Creation is the debut full-length of Riddle of Meander, a Greek band that plays second generations Hellenic Black Metal in its best blasphemous manner. The most known representative of this generation are Naer Mataron and Order Of The Ebon Hand, but also Macabre Omen and Nocternity, which meanwhile conform to the epic style.
Therewith it's indicated within the stylistic expedition is going to, as Naer Mataron did celebrate on their both first releases "Up From The Ashes" and "Skotos Aeneon" and Order Of The Ebon Hand still practices. It's good to know, that there's another group, which keeps alive this phenomenal art of playing, subsequently to the last Naer Mataron record being a thoroughly flop.

So it let's go the starting track Immortal Hate. It's rhythmically discreet driving and straight, of course fast, but not vehement. The sweeping and brute is rather obtained from the superior singing, the parching riffs as the glacial melodies. Generally the music of Riddle of Meander is very guitar-focused, it's the instrument, which accentuates the driving playing together with the vocals. The drums aren't neglected to the essentials; therefore its sound is naturally warm and rather pressureful.
There's no song on End of All Live and Creation, that is jut out exceptionally. All ten titles convince and delight on a constant high level. The material indeed is thoroughly structured diversified, it has harsh fast passages, calm and harmonic moments as midpace arrangements, within the bass playing are occasionally heard quite clear. The keynote of Riddle of Meander is despite these different elements a driving and aggressive one. Its round about an absolutely convincing record, where the tensions are swinging between icy hate, alive torn of destruction and sporadic melancholy.

What annoys me solely at the tape is the fact, that the A side abruptly ends during the song When the Fog Veils ... and after a turning continues on the B side at another point. Thereby you loose some seconds and the audible emotions are gone. This is vexed and astonishing, too, though the tape arranging and the cover are very professional and impressive. By such a care for the detail, tactlessness shouldn't happen. Besides the tape, which is limited on 499 pieces, a CD version also exists, which is published on Excesor Christianorum Records.

This misfortune doesn't modify the fact, that End of All Live and Creation is a grandiose release and Riddle of Meander could quite become a sleeper!


Aceust

(Translation: G.P.)

01. Immortal hate
02. Maze of the pentagram
03. Cursed are the weak
04. Path of desecration
05. Raging abyss
06. When the fog veils...
07. Mass murder
08. Spirit of sorrow
09. Conquering night wind
10. Superior black flame


RIDDLE OF MEANDER
VARJOT PRODUCTIONS
EXCESOR CHRISTIANORUM RECORDS