Winter crescent were formed at the winter of 2000 by Alex Ktistakis and Nick Drakos, in Heraklion Crete, Greece. After 8 years of line-up changes, the band started to find a stable formation in early 2008. Winter Crescent has performed over the years at various live stages of Heraklion and has recorded a demo cd entitled “Battle Of Egos”, with 7 songs (35 minutes playtime), which was self-released in the early May of 2009. Winter Crescent are currently promoting their demo cd and they are searching for a decent record deal. There is also a tour (prog and run tour festival) scheduled for September, that will take place in various cities over Greece (check our gigs!). By the way if you want our demo cd contact us or order it from http://www.eatmetalrecords.com/shop/ or http://www.steelgallery.com/ or you can EBAY it by writting Winter Crescent an their search engine !!! Stay tuned and always listen to good music as long as it is metal !!!
- REVIEWS -
METAL HUNTER
Winter Crescent, a quite new band, released their demo which contains seven songs, counting thirty five minutes playtime. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of progressive metal music, but I can give you a hand if it's needed. However, in this album I can definitely tell you more, because it has something different: you will love it whether you listen to progressive or not!
The vocals are really good and the music does not tire you even for a second! It all starts with the musical trilogy "Battle of Egos", whose lyrics I found really inspiring and honest, coming from the deepest heart. The next song is "Furrow", a beautiful song, but with not many differences in the melodic lines. Next comes "My Last Will", a faster track where after about a minute and a half we enjoy a really well played guitar solo! I like the fact that the band doesn't wait till the last lines of the song to place the guitar solo, but offers it in after the first or second minute of the track! "Winter Cresent" follows in the same faster mood. Here the drums are even faster and the vocals are more powerfull, too. Last but not least comes the song "Lost in Dreams". A good rhyme combined with strong guitars and vocals is all needed for a good composition!
In generall, the album starts a bit "smoothly" if I'm allowed to say so for a metal release (!!!) and it becomes stronger towards the end. Also, the artwork is very good and doesn't follow the classic metal styles that we've seen millions of times! Of course, the demo is accompanied with the lyrics booklet in order to explore the world of this band through its words.
Well, it's really fascinating how a band that you normally wouldn't listen due to the music genre it belongs, amaze you and makes you want to listen more! In the end, apart from genres, age and other factors, it's all about music...and in this case, about very good music!
Good luck guyz and go on for more!
9/10
Theodora Panariti
LINK http://www.metalhunter.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=591&Itemid=53&lang=en
METALZONE
: Winter Crescent - Battle Of Egos
Posted by Kostantinos Grevenitis at 02/06/2009, 3:39 pm
Rating: 90%
Reader rating: 97.5%
Release date: 05/2009
Label: Self distributed
Genre: Progressive Metal
Tracklist:
01. Battle Of Egos Intro
02. Battle Of Egos Part I
03. Battle Of Egos Part II
04. Furrow
05. My Last Will
06. Winter Crescent
07. Lost In Dreams
Once I listened to the Winter Crescent’s demo, I was enormously impressed. "In your face" progressive metal, but, and this "but" hides a whole story behind it. Let us therefore reveal the truth and find out what lies behind it, starting....from the cover.
The cover was designed by Maria Trialoni and the logo by Marianna Antoniadis. Both lady did a perfect job, proving that there are Greek design talents, able to work for the music industry. The logo witnesses the band’s progressive style, and the cover fully expresses the aspect of the music and lyrics. Also the title is part of the rest ... Battle of Egos, a conflict against ourselves. I wish the best to the two girls and hope to see more or their artworks in the future.
The music is a wonderful "In your face" progressive metal, with clear influences from Nevermore, with no tiring long lengthed solos, bridges and fillings, the band was not trying to prove that they are virtuosos (oh what does it reminds me), but they successfully proved that they are excellent instrument players, composers and producers (the production is home made). The songs, whic most of them are composed by Alexis Ktistakis, are so careful composed, that the care is qualitatively similar to a cardiac surgeon while he operates. Each note is, if not perfect, almost perfect in the proper position. Indeed, as a programmer that I am, I believe that I can take a song and break it into independent musical parts, that each one could easily stand alone, not as separate song or as a riff, but as a milestone ready to be placed in the right positrion in order the whole stracture to be built. Also I would like to add that I really have loved the "Lost In Dreams" drums. George Ktistakis is an 18 year old talented drummer that has been playing really complex drums at least from the age of 15.
The vocals of Nikos Spyridakis (ex - Arkenstone, Rex Mundi) are very nice, perfectly touched on the songs. His voice has a special falsetto that makes the vocals even more varied, full, and having the songs being more peculiar. He has participated to all of the songs’ lyrics writing, proving that he is good at that part also.
The lyrics provide a dark style, an internal search and a deep introversion. Typical example of this "paranoia" is the "Battle Of Egos" trilogy. In there, the protagonist struggles with his past sins but also with himself. In a similar vein are the rest of the songs. While the first three songs are part a concept story, we could say that listening to the demo is like watching different episodes from the same series. To further emphasize, some of the lyrics are really theatrical at some points which is reflected to Spyridakis performance.
Finally, the production and the mixing are excellent, don’t forget that they are home by Ktistakis brothers. It is a noteworthy try, cause is not easy to achieve that kind of high quality production. Let us not forget that in order to get your music produced and mixed like that, you have to pay a studio and some "specialists" a lot of money. Furthermore to say that the songs where masterd by Michael Papoutsaki.
In conclusion, the overall effort worths of praise. It has been an organized effort, from the composition period, until the demo printing. and I think the first step is done in order to escape from Heraklion and their music to become known in Greece and aboard. Good luck to Winter Crescent and I wish to see them once live in Thessaloniki, and believe me, my words are prophetic.
Kostas Grevenitis
{Read in greek}
Lineup:
-:
Nikos Spiridakis - Vocals
Alexis Ktistakis - Guitars
Nikos Trialonis - Guitars
Thanos Sgouridis - Bass
George Ktistakis - Drums
LINK : http://www.metalzone.gr/reviews.php?action=details&id=1289&lang=en
METAL FROM GREECE
review on WINTER CRESCENT - BATTLE OF EGOS demo
Category: Music
Another progreesive metal attack has just started.This time,our attack begins from a place in Greece,a bit forgotten by the metal community..at least in relevance with rest of Greece.Crete,a beautiful island,which happens to let us with our mouth widely open this year.Not only with the releases of its bands,but also with some lives made there and even with the Prog And Run Fest in September (more info soon).Winter Crescent is our band and "Battle Of Egos" their first outstanding release.
A kinda risky release,since its self-produced,and self-released in 2000 copies!!!Ain't it that a lot?But who cares?If people are open-minded,this will surely be sold out.
Grab your jaw,and don't let it fall to the floor,with what you'll hear.Fully technical progressive heavy metal,in the paths that Dream Theater (just technique,not keyboards stuff like that!!!!),Watchtower,Fates Warning also walked..the usual ones.
"Battle Of Egos" a demo of 7 tracks,of 7 unique tracks by the musical view.Also good job has been made by the singer,who has some "previous service" in the greek metal scene in Arkenstone (another cretan band,which' dirrection of music might put you in a few thoughts...),and Rex Mundi (from Thessaloniki).
Even the cover artwork makes you consider seriously of what you're about to hear,just by taking a look at the guy gazing at the horizon's end (greek-->ΜΠΑΝΤΑΡΑ!!!) you can only be prepared for a long distance trip along with your thoughts and soul...(poetic?)
"Battle Of Egos" begins with our 3-part same-titled track..and as the name says,its all about the endless struggling,ones' with himself,his thoughts and feelings (something quite interesting since its a very common phenomenon in nowadays).But our story does not end here..all the tracks are slightly connected one another.All the tracks are soul-talking and mainly refer to our psychology,which makes it a bit darker.
Special referance must be made to the drummer,who grabbed my balls and did not let me move with his incredible talent..his age?17 fuckin' years old.YES,only 17 and plays like a maniac...
Personally i would not pick some track as favourite,but just because i was left speechless by the kid,i beleive i will say "Lost In Dreams".He really kicks ass in this track.And he is not the only one.The whole rhythm section gives its best,and can easily be heard.
Definately a disc for most metalheads,not just the Greeks ones,nor just the progressive ones!Check them also in the Prog And Run Fest in September (more info soon)
http://www.metalfromgreece.com/
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