Chronomancy – Shadows In Atlantis

Chronomancy
Shadows In Atlantis
Fighter Records
March 8, 2022
Playing time: 55:06

Chronomancy is a heavy metal band from Thessaloniki (Greece). Formed in 2010, the band released the demo “Baptised In Fire” with three songs in the same year. The self-financed debut album “Here And Now” was released four years later. For the following EP “Age Of Chivalry” (2017), the musicians were able to sign a label deal with White Crown Music. In the meantime, they are signed to Fighter Records and released the second studio album “Shadows In Atlantis” in March.

The band plays a blend of heavy, epic, power metal, enriched with symphonic, folk and some extreme elements.

That’s what it is written in the press release. And the opener “Rebirth” seems to prove this right. The listener is greeted with flutes, pipes and bagpipes. Did the Atlanteans once really have Celtic roots. Chris A.D. Paschalidis sings with a clear voice and fits (at first) into the folk sound.  But already on “Dance Of The Vampires” the folk influence is cut back. Riffs and guitar hooks make up this song. “Pilgrims In A Foreign Land” then tends even more in the direction of Power Metal. Chris sings a bit harsher here in places. The chorus is easy to sing along. The double bass sets the rhythm here and a strong guitar solo round the whole thing off. With “The Voyager” the Greeks go into Speed Metal realms. Manowar choruses can be heard on “Seven Deadly Kins”. However, without reaching the quality of the early work of the pioneers of Epic Metal. The growls and the screaming guitars provide a certain basic heaviness. The anthemic power ballad “The Hunting Song” is a resting point of the album. But already the Epic “Magnum Opus” then picks up speed again. With “Legions Of Mist” you can also hear a great Metal anthem.  The title track “Shadows In Atlantis” is the second ballad of the album, despite faster passages thrown in now and then. The Epic component is strongly represented here as well. Oh, and there are flutes again. The bouncer “Up With The Phoenix” rocks along lively. One last time there are epic choruses.

“Shadows In Atlantis” is a good album. Folk and Symphonic influences can be heard clearly but are not overused. The songs are varied and pleasant to listen to. For my taste, however, the production could have been a bit more powerful. So, the Greeks still have room for improvement. Let’s see what a possible successor has to offer.

Chronomancy – Up With The Phoenix (Official Video-Clip): https://youtu.be/AcbEPYMWYKM

Lineup:

Chris A.D. Paschalidis – Vocals
Tyrtaeus Kamarinos – Guitars, Flute recorder, Backing Vocals
Yiangos Sourbis – Guitars
Thanos “Somber” Dogranlis – Bass
Mary Sypoula – Keys, Backing Vocals
Kyriakos Tsakalidis – Drums

Track list:

• Rebirth
• Dance Of The Vampires
• Pilgrims In A Foreign Land
• The Voyager
• Seven Deadly Kins
• The Hunting Song
• Magnum Opus
• Thunderchild
• Legions Of Mist
• Shadows In Atlantis
• Up With The Phoenix