Embarking for the first time in his long career on his brand new solo album, known for being fiendishly technical behind the kit George Kollias brings us into the world of Invictus.
[tracklist]
1. Echoes OF Divinity
2. Invictus
3.The Passage
4. Aeons Of Burning Galaxies
5. Shall Rise / Shall Be Dead
6. Voices
7. Treasure Of Nemesis
8. Apocalypse
9. Epitaph
10. Through The Empty Eyes Of Light
11. Buried Under The Flames
[/tracklist]
[details]
[length]54:00[/length]
[record_label]Season Of Mist[/record_label]
[release_date]15th May 2015[/release_date]
[/details]
The art of a solo album is the ability to perhaps go out of your comfort zone. Try various different ideas, many a time the solo album can be a fantastic vehicle of different inspiration that, due to a bands certain style, might not be able to express. Releasing his solo album George Kollias begins his journey on the coveted solo career.
For those that don’t know the sticks man is part of a band called Nile. The man’s technical prowess in the death metal arena has become the stuff of legend, able to perform various drum trickery at his whim the man is synonymous with Nile’s aptitude for technicality. Our atmospheric introduction ensures that these are indeed familiar waters that our listener will be treading. “Invictus” begins after the solemn intro and is a shining example of Kollias‘ ability.
Not only did Kollias take on his usual role but also recorded all guitar parts himself along with vocals for the album. Solo’s were taken care off with guests from each track. An interesting Easter egg for those that are particularly affluent in the Death Metal genre. Guessing which guitarist is on what song can be a nice distraction from the rather samey riffing. Seeing appearances from Rotting Christ guitarist George Emmanuel on “Shall Rise / Shall Be Dead” Firewind and band mate Karl Sanders on “Voices” a particularly melodic track. This doesn’t take away from inescapable fact that Kollias is a drummer! That being said the drums work fantastically in the album particularly on “Epitaph” where the drummer goes into hyper space.
“Aeons Of Burning Galaxies” opens with the atmospheric sense of marching, again very likened to the drummers other band along with some Behemoth worship in the verse section. It is commendable how much work Kollias put into the recording of this work. The solo artist was neither deterred or disheartened when confronted with the sheer amount of work needed for Invictus to come to life. Personally one of my favourite tracks from the record has to be instrumental “Apocalypse” it might be similar to tracks already on the album with marching clicking of wood, yet it contains sounds bytes of thunder, acoustic guitars and even a keyboard to heighten the sense of atmosphere. Most importantly however the man goes outside his comfort zone.
Nevertheless when Kollias is firmly rooted in what he knows he executes it well. Previous song “Treasures Of Nemesis” brings the almost trance like riffing to the fore before the flurry of drums and a stand out element of real headbanging metal. Typically Invictus deals with themes thoroughly excavated in the sand layered years of the pyramids of the past, ruling empires and the like. Again “Buried Under The Flames” begins with an exciting opening yet is mired by the far too formulaic song writing.
Though this may be Kollias‘ first foray into the world of the solo artist it is commendable. Nevertheless a tiger cannot change its stripes. Kollias is a drummer. A brilliant drummer but unfortunately the riffs are slightly stale where there needed to be a little more work. Having said that though I couldn’t write an entire album on my own! Let alone produce the thing! If you’re a Nile fan it will tie you over until August when the new record emerges but it lacks that significant punch that this kind of death metal so sorely needs.
[verdict]Maybe[/verdict]
[why]Aiming to create his own voice, you cannot detract that Kollias will always think of things in the drumming perspective. A good stop gap between Nile albums but not inventive enough for Kollias to shed his Egyptian Death Metal coat tails.[/why]
