Xiphos – The Rise And Fall Of Athens (Album – Lichterklang)
Genre/Influences: Neo-Folk, Industrial, Martial.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: This is the debut album by Xiphos. The project was set up in 2018 by Troy Southgate (HERR/Seelenlicht) who got a helping hand from Italian musician Matteo Brusa (Medhelan, La Tredicesima Luna ao.) and Miklós Hoffer (HERR/Donderdag). The album title clearly indicates what it’s all about however it even goes further as it’s inspired by the book of historian and Platonist philosopher Plutarch.
Content: The work is a sonic transposition from the early Athens history featuring legendary characters into music. The work is driven by Martial bombast and refined by the play of real instruments. On top of the Epic arrangements you’ll notice the very present spoken vocals dealing about the concept.
+ + + : The conceptual strength of the work comes rapidly through. I like the global approach of the production for the match between sound and vocals. Bombast and authenticity are matching together. Sometimes refined and then again moving into heavy, Epic, arrangements this work has a strong visual appeal which is reinforced by the spoken vocals.
– – – : I sometimes miss a bit more passion in the narrative style of the vocals.
Conclusion: This album is touched by authenticity and brings different but related music genres together.
Best songs: “Nicias”, “Cimon”, “Pericles”, “Lysander”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063624279899
Label: www.lichterklang.de / www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063960702626
Listen to the album:
About Xiphos
Xiphos is a project set up in 2018 by Troy Southgate, also known for HERR and Seelenlicht, with contributions from Italian musician Matteo Brusa (Medhelan, La Tredicesima Luna) and Miklos Hoffer (HERR, Donderdag). The debut album, “The Rise and Fall of Athens”, is a concept work inspired by the writings of the Greek historian and Platonist philosopher Plutarch, tracing figures from early Athenian history across eleven tracks including “Theseus”, “Solon”, “Themistocles”, “Pericles” and “Lysander”. It was released on 14 October 2022 and issued via the German label Lichterklang.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
