Achelous - Tower of High Sorcery (2024)

Time to make a dive on the waters of the Underground metal scene. This time, with Achelous from Greece and their third Epic Heavy Metal album. If bands like Atlantean Kodex, Sorcerer (their most recent, less Doom approach), or Doomsword tingle your senses, or you are into this genre overall, then don’t look further.

The band gets evidently better with each release and their hard work between them is profound, so Tower of High Sorcery is the most mature Achelous work. The focus of the music is the prominence of its melodies and epic atmosphere. There are some moments where the speed goes up, but even then it’s the melodies that are highlighted. There is no overreliance on keyboards apart from a couple songs where they shine, so the main credit for everything goes straight to the traditional Metal instruments. When needed, female leads are also added to the mix across the album to enrich the final result.

What stood out is the variation across the songs. For example the ultimate highlight for me is the middle eastern oriented Istar, one of the few times we hear orchestrations. Fortress of Sorrow has a more melancholic approach that peaks at its chorus. In Into the Shadow we have a showdown with the legendary Harry Conklin, aka “The Tyrant”, who needs no introduction. If you believe it is needed, stop everything and search for Jag Panzer. Pagan Fire is a beautiful ballad, or I should say the perfect soundtrack during medieval gatherings, akin to Blind Guardian’s a Past and Future Secret. The title track is as epic as the name promises.

Unrelated to the music but the cherry on top, the cover of the album. It is a great work of art that I would definitely want to hang on my wall.

Now, Tower of High Sorcery belongs in a very niche music category. If you have never explored the fields of underground Epic Metal, this is a great opportunity to get a first taste. If you have tried but not been moved before, I don’t see things being any different. Its core fans that thirst for that kind of music, will be delighted to hear it as the album is a love letter to them. Achelous prove that dedication and love for what they do, is the key for progress. If the same level of development continues in the future, glorious things will surely happen. Free from the burden of being a band-brand, they play what their souls demand and we have no choice but to pick up our swords and follow them to battle.