''Communion'' is the seventh studio album by Greek

death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...

band

Septicflesh Septicflesh (formerly known as Septic Flesh) are a Greek death metal band from Athens, founded in 1990. History Septicflesh were formed in Athens in March 1990 by Sotiris Vayenas (guitar), Spiros Antoniou (bass and vocals), and Christos Ant ...

. It was released on March 17, 2008 worldwide, and March 25, 2008 in the United States, both dates through the French label

Season of Mist Season of Mist is an independent record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pag ...

. The album is the first since the band's split up, after the release of ''

Sumerian Daemons ''Sumerian Daemons'' is the sixth studio album by the Greek death metal band Septicflesh. It was released by Hammerheart Records in 2003. It was originally the band's final album before they disbanded later the same year, until they reformed in ...

'' in 2003, and the first to be released under the name "Septicflesh" following the band's name change.

Background and production

Septicflesh first announced a reunion show at the Metal Healing Festival in their home-country on February 19, 2007 and shortly hereafter a new full-length on French label Season of Mist. ''Communion'' including a full classical orchestra, arranged by guitarist Christos Antoniou, who has a master's degree in concert music from the London College of Music. The Prague Filmharmonic Orchestra recorded the compositions with 80 instrumentalists and a choir of 32 singers.

Musical and lyrical themes

''Communion'' combines the heaviness and brutality of

, with the obscure atmosphere of

gothic metal Gothic metal (or goth metal) is a fusion genre combining the aggression of heavy metal with the dark atmospheres of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy met ...

, along with some influences of

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...

. The album features a full orchestra and choir, with more than 100 musicians — adding a classical element to the songs — led by Chris Antoniou who is responsible for the arrangements. According to guitarist Sotiris Vayenas the album title means something like "communication with non-human entities." The main theme of album is

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, with elements from various ancient civilizations, including

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, Hellenic and

Sumer Sumer () is the earliest known civilization in the historical region of southern Mesopotamia (south-central Iraq), emerging during the Chalcolithic and early Bronze Ages between the sixth and fifth millennium BC. It is one of the cradles of c ...

ian.

Critical reception

''Communion'' received excellent reviews from music critics and Septicflesh's fans, with

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reviewer Chad Bowar saying "The extreme elements of Septic Flesh are tempered with melody and contrasted nicely by the symphonic elements. The songwriting and arrangements are excellent. It's a great mix of tempos, intensities and atmospheres. From the beautiful to the brutal, Communion covers all the musical bases, and this is one of the best CDs Septic Flesh has done." Kostas Sarampalis of Chronicles of Chaos praised the album, stating "In short, Septic Flesh have come out of their coma in great shape with a fantastic album."

Track listing

All lyrics written by Sotiris V., all music composed by Septicflesh.

Personnel

Release history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Communion (Album) 2008 albums Septicflesh albums Season of Mist albums Albums with cover art by Spiros Antoniou Albums produced by Fredrik Nordström Albums by Greek artists