France is not a usual visitor here, but slowly and steadily the situation is reversing. ANTHEMON were as good as unknown to me, but the present album surely makes me want to accompany the rest of the band’s future discography.
Summoned in France in 1997, ANTHEMON have since been gathering all sorts of reactions to a band that is officially unike many others. The first album was released in 2003 (MCD not included). Titled Arcanes, the album revealed a Parisian band with taste for atmospheric metal and Doom. Judging by the follow-up, Dystopia, attention is given to details, but the musical direction is not exactly the same.
Having recruited a new drummer with a Thrash background and a male singer to replace the previous female singer, the band’s sound is obviously changing. This is probably one of the reasons why one can hear several different styles within the album, ranging from Death to Thrash, some electro, but especially a lot of melody and atmospheres.
Some passages sound remotely like Elegy–era AMORPHIS. Curiously enough, Dystopia was mixed and produced at the Tico Tico Studios (Finland) by Ahti Kortelainen. The sound is good, and the quality of the work in general deserves respect. Due to the above mentioned recent changes the style of the band can no longer be considered as Atmospheric/ Doom metal. Symphonic Doom, however, does sum up the band’s main features. Add a versatile vocalist, versatile musicians indeed, some touches of prog, quality composition – and you get a band which will please not only fans of Doom, but also of classic metal.
Myspace Anthemon
Cover Anthemon – Dystopia Front
Anthemon – Serene Eves