Tore Hoyland
Reminds me a bit of Philip Glass and Ludovico Einaudi at times.
Minimalistic but very beautiful.
Its always a pleasure to listen to Kostas music.
Back in the early months of 2020, keyboardist and composer Kostas
Panagiotou (Pantheïst, Towards Atlantis Lights, Ereipia, ex-Landskap, ex-Crippled Black Phoenix…) decided to take advantage of the forced inactivity and isolation of the pandemic lockdown to record a compilation of atmospheric piano-based music he had composed over the years. The resulting work ‘Chamber of Isolation’ was digitally released on Bandcamp as a ‘name-your-price’ album. Despite the spontaneous, unpromoted nature of this release, the album was received enthusiastically for its abstract yet heartfelt and descriptive depiction of lockdown isolation by an audience of primarily open-minded doom metal fans, who spread the word in the good old word-of-mouth fashion.
A few months later, the EP ‘Times of Change’ was released, further
cementing Kostas’ original piano-based sound, this time containing
more idiosyncratic compositions. The track ‘Stardust’ became a fan
favourite, and a metal version of this piano instrumental was included in the latest Pantheïst opus ‘Closer to God’.
‘Tor’ continues this trend towards a more distinctive and individual sound, further perfecting the instrumental classical ambient approach of the earlier albums. The concept behind the work was conceived after visits to Glastonbury in Somerset and mystical journeys from the town towards the Tor. The spiritual energy of the site evoked feelings of a transformative journey, rather than a physical one and these feelings were subsequently translated into sound.
The musical influences are diverse, ranging from classical greats Ludovico Einaudi, Wim Mertens and Philip Glass to more obscure, experimental artists such as Rafael Anton Irisarri and Raison d’être. There are even echoes of the W40k soundtrack, as well as Kostas’s darker and more experimental background in Pantheïst, Ereipia and Crippled Black Phoenix. More diverse and mature compared to previous works, ‘Tor’ is promising to thrill, delight and move its listeners, enthralling both fans of atmospheric instrumental music as well as those with a more experimental disposition.
"Kostas has always been my personal godfather of doom. Pantheist being cult, but also Wijlen Wij, or the unfortunately underground Wastes, are bands that I cherish so much and, to be honest, I’ve always been drawn to the keyboardists because I know it’s not easy to enhance something done by a wall of guitars. Kostas goes always beyond that and serves emotions on a nostalgic platter whatever he does and here is no exception. Every song drowns you somewhere. Idyllic, cinematic, dreamlike, ominous … always powerful and beautiful. It’s been a pleasure to produce this album to the point that I spent so much time listening to it, that for this period, nothing could satisfy me more. Love at first sight and a grower. Every song has a story… just dive."
(Déhà, musician and album producer)
An absolutely amazing album that reaches you to the bottom of the abyss. Gaia takes you by the hand, tells you that you're not alone in this, the pain is over, the misunderstanding of your pain is over and accompanied by keyboards, violins, acoustic guitars, cello and amazing vocals, she pulls you out of the disgusting mire of your mind and together you embark on a journey of melancholy, despondency, hope, pessimism and the seasons. tenebriscaedes
one of the best death doom bands so far. great melodies with great atmospheres. mostly slow, heavy and doomy but sometimes there are these groovy double-bass drum moments wich are pretty fucking cool. if you like death doom and melodic atmospheric black metal, this is for you. Sælzer Bub