Damon Systema – Ate

Damon Systema
Ate
Label: Theogonia Records
Out: March 21^st, 2025
Playing time: 44:41

Damon Systema are a Dark Melodic Metal band from Greece. Once again, the press info doesn’t mention the date of the band’s foundation. The band’s first sign of life on Facebook is dated 23 August 2023, but the band must have already existed before that, because it is stated that they are in the middle of the final work on their debut album. OK, but it still took almost three years for ‘Ate’ to see the light of day. At least singer Ruby Bouziotis is not an unknown to me. She released one or two videos with cover songs a few years ago, such as ‘My Lost Lenore’ by Tristania (from the 1998 album ‘Widow’s Weeds’). The album was produced, recorded and mixed by Akis Pastras (Dexter Ward, Nightfall) at the 3rDi Lab-Station. George Nerantzis (Abbath, Pain Of Salvation, Rotting Christ) was responsible for the mastering.

Quiet acoustic guitars can be heard at the beginning of ‘Moirae’. After strings can be heard briefly, hard riffs and heavy drumming are added. The sound is very creepy and threatening in places. Nick Vlachakis’ growls seem to come straight from the Abyss. Ruby Bouziotis’ dark timbre, on the other hand, is downright beguiling. But she also delivers evil screams, alternating with Nick’s growls. In ‘Lady Discordia’, the guitars really push out of the speakers. Ruby once again impresses with her pleasantly deeper voice. Nick can also be heard again and again with his growls. Akis Pastras also delivers a good guitar solo. ‘Harvest Of Tears’ continues in a powerful vein. The song is strongly characterised by riffs that are very varied. And Ruby convinces with very melodic vocal performances. However, she also lets out her screams again and again. The title track ‘Ate’ bursts with raw power at the beginning. The double bass is the main driving force here. But there are also very quiet moments that follow, in which Ruby Bouziotis’ voice really comes into its own. The contrast between melodic, partly breathy vocals and hard riffs characterises large parts of the song. ‘Adrasteia’ is Epic Dark/Doom Metal. With a strong, calm and melodic guitar solo. The final song ‘Poenas Dare’ is again dominated by the interplay between growls/screams and beguiling vocals.

With ‘Ate’, the Greeks have released a good debut album. And you shouldn’t be put off by the word ‘dark’. There are many influences of Epic Doom and Death Metal to be heard. The interplay of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is not exaggerated. Ruby Bouziotis’ vocals contribute a great deal to this. She sings with a pleasant voice and doesn’t even attempt to climb the highest pitches of the musical scale.

Damon Systema – Ate: https://youtu.be/jE-wtOnNgHk?si=F-cSfhl1lAfqjmFx

Lineup:

Ruby Bouziotis – Vocals
Nick Vlachakis – Vocals
Akis Pastras – Guitars, Bass
The Goat – Drums

Track list:

• Moirae
• Lady Discordia
• Harvest of Tears
• Ate
• Adrasteia
• Poenas Dare