CoC : Sothis - Sothis : Review

Sothis - _Sothis_
by: Quentin Kalis (4 out of 5)

Unaware of its status as a demo, I would have assumed that the impressive looking digipak in my post-box was released by one of the smaller independents. Clearly I wasn't about to be subjected to a one man necro blasting bathroom studio job. Sothis describe their music as "symphonic black metal", which suits it perfectly, sounding not dissimilar to post-_Enthrone Darkness Triumphant_ Dimmu Borgir (minus the clumsy lyrical verbosity). The production is also surprisingly strong for a demo, and although not quite up to the (over) production of _Death Cult Armageddon_, it is the best I've ever heard on a demo by any band even vaguely influenced by black metal. Although expectedly trebly, no instrument is allowed to dominate -- although bass is quite hard (nay, impossible) to hear. The keyboards are utilised effectively, being brought to the foreground when needed and subsumed by guitars on other occasions. "Reflections of Old" exhibits an attempt at clean black metal vocals, which are average and don't do much for the song as a whole; the typical third wave screams which pepper the demo are far more effective. In short, this is an impressive demo and it would be interesting to see what they would produce with the backing of a label and a decent budget.

Contact: http://www.sothis.us

(article published 3/6/2005)

GIGS
6/20/2006	T DePalma	Demilich / Averse Sefira / Biolich / Funebrarum / Sothis / Abythos / Mucupurient	A Tale of Two Cities