Hail Spirit Noir are a Greek band riding the wave of 'psychedelic black metal' that's been gaining in popularity over the last few years (somewhat initiated, I believe, by Oranssi Pazuzu). 2014's Oi Magoi (no I don't know what that means) is the band's sophomore effort, following 2012's Pneuma, which I have yet to listen to. This album apparently features far better production; the production is, in fact, fairly even, with no real complaints.
The first track, 'Blood Guru', is quite a doozy, featuring a peeled-back interweave of twin guitar, bass, tentatively frenetic drumming, and keyboards, topped off with some blood-curdling vocals. It all recalls Oranssi Pazuzu, but with something of an earnest groove to it. Good stuff. Unfortunately, the rest of the album is somewhat marred by some questionable clean vocals, which are first introduced in the startling cheesechorus of 'Demon for a Day' and continue to haunt every subsequent track on the album (and not in a kvlt way). 'Satan is Time' is a particular offender, and I'm left wondering just what the band though they were doing here. The singing is trying to be bombastic and epic, I think, but it comes off less Bruce Dickinson or King Diamond and more... think Pain of Salvation without the emotion, I guess?
The band is best off when they either go for the evil jam session thing, as on 'Blood Guru' and the title track, or a more straightforward and aggressive sound, as on 'Satyriko Orgio', which lives up to the track name. The album is anchored by the epic-in-length 'The Mermaid', which climaxes with a heavy metal riff-em-up that is indeed pretty awesome. The title track, it should be mentioned, is the one track where the clean vocals are acceptable, with more of a chanting thing going on.
I definitely liked more about this than I disliked, but after being very excited about the first track, I can't help but feel juuuust a little let down.
3/5
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