{"id":662753,"date":"2026-03-17T20:05:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/662753\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T20:05:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:05:18","slug":"decipher-%ce%b8%ce%b5%ce%bb%ce%b7%ce%bc%ce%b1-thelema-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/662753\/","title":{"rendered":"Decipher – \u0398\u0395\u039b\u0397\u039c\u0391 (Thelema) Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"It\u2019s not often I underrate something, but if there were ever a legitimate example, it might be my review of Arcane Paths to Resurrection<\/a>, the debut from Greek black metal trio Decipher. <\/strong>Upon revisiting it recently, I experienced newfound intense appreciation for their slightly crusty melodic black metal, and this all stemmed from my initial spins of sophomore \u0398\u0395\u039b\u0397\u039c\u0391. Not overly atmospheric, not supremely dissonant or integrated into death metal, nor straightforwardly raw and aggressive, Decipher<\/strong> maintain a style in Thelema that\u2019s as subtly intriguing and melodic as it is punchy and to-the-point. The word Thelema means will and while there\u2019s no lyric sheet or storytelling in promo material to elucidate the concept, the snatches of audible references to Satan, and the generally extreme, yet anthemic vibe of the music broadcast defiant rebellion and the burden of being, which suit that word well.<\/p>\n

Decipher<\/strong>\u2019s sound is broadly the same as on Arcane Paths, a Watain<\/strong>-meets-Dissection<\/strong> viciousness tempered\u2014if you can call it that\u2014by a darker, eerier side that pulls more from Icelandic acts like Svartidau\u00f0i<\/strong>. Whilst remaining committed to frequent use of group-chanted and screamed vocal lines and plenty of recognisably malicious blackened riffery, Thelema sees the band experiment a little more. While not meandering\u2014with the possible exception of \u201cBound to the Wheel\u201d\u2014songs spread their themes into more variations (\u201cThe Black March,\u201d \u201cTowards Renaissance\u201d) or uncanny soloing, whilst rhythms shift more often, and build tension for longer before unravelling and transforming. The barely five minutes added is enough for the compositions to have more presence, whether with energetic malevolence (\u201cReturn to Naught,\u201d \u201cSeven Scars\u201d) or ominous finality (\u201cLiturgy\u201d). Skirting the precipice that would see a descent into atmo-black, there\u2019s a relaxation and a layering to the melodic lines that deepens and darkens the sound.<\/p>\n

\ufeff\u0398\u0395\u039b\u0397\u039c\u0391 (Thelema) by DECIPHER<\/a><\/p>\n

Thelema demonstrates that Decipher<\/strong>\u2019s command of rhythm, melody, and grit has only gotten better, as it compels with the joint force of hookiness and evil. Using recurring patterns of riff, vocals, and percussion that each cue one another, Decipher<\/strong> create a thrashing feeling of push-and-pull that\u2019s downright magnetic. A group wail precipitating a gnarly descending arpeggio (\u201cSeven Scars\u201d); the way a guitar clambers up and down to the precise beat of the drums (\u201cReturn to Naught,\u201d \u201cHail Death\u201d). These manifest organically out of existing tempos\u2014blast beat (\u201cSeven Scars\u201d), march (\u201cThe Black March\u201d), or shuffling skitter (\u201cTowards Renaissance\u201d) alike, making the shifts seamless and the identity consistent. Perhaps this is black metal that\u2019s not unusual on paper, but adorned with Decipher<\/strong>\u2019s now recognisable bright yet sinister melodies, and continually layered vocals, it sounds freshly thrilling. The tingles that go down my spine when I hear the first riff on opener \u201cReturn to Naught,\u201d the solo that ends \u201cThe Black March,\u201d and the overlaid cries and urgent tremolo of \u201cLitany\u201d have not yet failed to materialise.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Thelema\u2019s enjoyability and power over its listener is also bolstered by Decipher<\/strong>\u2019s additional refinements in areas not lacking before. By severing any instrumental interlude or protracted intro, the energy\u2014however it transforms\u2014and momentum are maintained, and the album has a more robust through-line. Rhythmic and thematic shifts flex and emerge variously with emphasis and mournful or spiteful intensity. The wails are just as agonised and chest-emptying in the latter half as they are in the first. Decipher<\/strong>\u2019s production has also expanded to accommodate their slightly more nuanced and exploratory sound. Thelema sports a roomy mix that keeps the interspersed vocal and guitar lines, and the proudly beating drums and crashing cymbals equally audible and striking.<\/p>\n

I recall bemoaning a lack of zhuzh in Arcane Paths and, whether or not I still consider that justified, it definitely wouldn\u2019t be here. For all the new layers and senses of intrigue, Thelema remains a black metal album with standout moments that threaten to overshadow and desaturate the more standard fare, and may strike some harder than others. It yet undeniably shows Decipher<\/strong> carving out a decisive space for themselves that adumbrates a dark, delicious presence. Thelema stands one step behind the inexorability that confers greatness in its sphere. But it\u2019s a small step.<\/p>\n

Rating<\/strong>: Very Good
DR<\/strong>: 11 | Format Reviewed<\/strong>: 320kbps mp3
Label<\/strong>: Transcending Obscurity Records<\/a>
Websites<\/strong>: Bandcamp<\/a> | Facebook<\/a>
Releases Worldwide<\/strong>: March 20th, 2026<\/p>\n

\n\tGive in to Your Anger:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s not often I underrate something, but if there were ever a legitimate example, it might be my…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":662754,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[29],"tags":[12086,63696,23635,150005,280453,278646,171,139036,270528,23658,975,2290,11853,280454,280455,124039,67,132,68,280456],"class_list":["post-662753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-12086","tag-3-5","tag-black-metal","tag-blackened-death-metal","tag-decipher","tag-dissection","tag-entertainment","tag-greek-metal","tag-mar26","tag-melodic-black-metal","tag-music","tag-review","tag-reviews","tag-svartidaudi","tag-thelema","tag-transcending-obscurity-records","tag-united-states","tag-unitedstates","tag-us","tag-watain"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116246316896312497","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=662753"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662753\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/662754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=662753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=662753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=662753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}