Year: 2026
Label: The Circle Music

If you’ve studied your black metal history, the combination of Greece and Magus should bring to mind a legendary character within the genre. I am, of course, referring to Magus Wampyr Daoloth, a scene legend if there ever was one. His CV is impressive: Rotting Christ, Necromantia, Thou Art Lord, Zemial and more.

In other words: any album of his comes loaded with expectations. As I’ve established before, the Greek sound is a very distinct sound, and The Magus, as he goes by today, is a cornerstone in the shaping of that sound.

Daemomosophia, the sophomore effort The Magus’ project of the same name, doesn’t sound very Greek. When you listen for it, you can hear faint nods in that direction, but the overwhelming majority of the album is something else entirely. Perhaps the Greek sound has become a bit of a straitjacket, and it was time to explore different territory?

Sadly, on Daemonosophia, The Magus have removed the Greek elements only to replace them with something very, very generic. The whole album could be characterized as vaguely old school black metal in the most non-denominational, faceless fashion. This means sawing guitars with rather melodic riffs, speedy tempos, in themselves pretty competent but a bit faceless black metal snarls. The base essence of the album leans perhaps somewhere in the direction of Dark Funeral in how it is dark and fierce, but still very melodic and rather easy to approach.

The album isn’t cut from a single cloth, though. The Era Of Lucifer Rising adds backing choirs and replaces black metal with a tender guitar melody. Makes me think of Therion. The Pact is perhaps the most obvious nod towards the classic Greek sound.

However, one problem affects all tracks, regardless of approach. None is particularly engaging, memorable or standout. Everything about the album is lamentably faceless, generic and – I shudder to say it – mediocre. This is one of those albums that begins, runs its course and ends, and the listener is left with nary a memory imprint.

To be sure, Daemonosophia is technically entirely proficient. The music is written and played well enough, and the sound is clear but not entirely sterile. However, beyond these technicalities, there’s very little on the album to be enthused about. Try as I might, I can’t muster any excitement over this piece of tepid, trite black metal.

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