Melas Oneiros by Ephialtes

CD Digipak /Merch available at
https://music.blacklion.nu/Ephialtes


Ephialtes’ debut album ‘Melas Oneiros’ is an aggressive, anthem-laden Melodic Blackened Death Metal with a traditional Heavy Metal feel to it. A peculiar, explosive blend that the band itself decided to call Heavy Metal of Death.

The name of the band derives from the Ancient Greek word “ephiáltēs (ἐφιάλτης)”, meaning “nightmare”, which in turn derives from the “ephàllomai (ἐφάλλομαι)”, composed of two elements: “epí (επί)” (upon, on) plus “állomai (ἅλλομαι)” (assault, climb, uphill, jumping, jump) because, in reference to a popular belief, the nightmares were nicknamed “one who climbed over the body of the dormant”. Ephialtes. One who leaps upon. The nightmare.

The history of Ephialtes started over the course of the global pandemic. During that period the band’s driving force Przemysław Tomasz Olbryt alias Quazarre (also known from Devilish Impressions, Asgaard, ex-Crionics) had been hard at work on what would later turn to be their debut album, ‘Melas Oneiros’.

“At the time I just grabbed the guitar and started writing without even thinking of where these new tunes would end up on. I mean, I already had this idea in mind for quite a while to introduce a new project, a brand that would take the global metal community by storm but back then I wasn’t even sure this would be eventually marked as Ephialtes. Initially I was more like, OK, let’s go with the flow and see where it’s going to take me to.” – comments Quazarre.

He had then asked his bandmates from Devilish Impressions to join in for both, the recording sessions as well as for the new band’s future live performances. Another figure to compliment ‘Melas Oneiros’ is Marcus Edvardsson from Sweden’s Souldrainer, who’s responsible for the parts of epic, choir-like synthesizers on the album.

Recording commenced in 2021 at different locations in Poland and Sweden (Icaros Studio, Metallfabriken Studio, Studio Młyn) and was completed in the following year under the helm of Przemysław Nowak at Impressive-Art Studio.

“Having made all the demos for each song that eventually landed on the album, I decided to rewrite some compositions and consistently change all the arrangements up until I was truly satisfied with the final result. We really pulled ourselves out of the comfort zone which translated to the attitude towards the composing and later to the recording and post-production process – no boundaries, no restrictions and fulfilling only the expectations of our own. From the beginning it was meant to be a loud, untamed roar from the very bottom of our hearts. I believe it is one of those ‘love it or hate it’ records. Remorselessly honest, touching and uncompromising.” – he continues.

Indeed, the final result is not only brave but also utterly meticulous in its vision of how the Melodic Blackened Death Metal might sound like nowadays. ‘Melas Oneiros’ is a tremendous, collosal album full of catchy, hook-laden riffs, epic slow-downs and haunting melodies all immersed in a dark, somber but beautiful atmosphere. It is the perfect blend of Black, Death and Heavy Metal.

“We are certainly not re-inventing the wheel down here, it is just our own take on the genre. We remain loyal to the classic yet at the same time are not afraid to push boundaries. When it comes to the artistic side of it, we are not here to please anyone but ourselves. We are the liberated ones. We are to haunt you down while you are asleep. We are your sullen, recurring nightmare. The One Who Leaps Upon. We are Ephialtes!” – sums up Quazarre.

aggressive, anthem-laden Melodic Blackened Death Metal with a traditional Heavy Metal feel to it. A peculiar, explosive blend which the band itself decided to call Heavy Metal of Death.