Review YOTH IRIA “Gone With the Devil”

Hailing from Athens, Greece, Yoth Iria formed in 2019. Their debut album, “As the Flames Withers”, was released in 2021, and it was the “Blazing Inferno” that marked a second step for the band. This album also served as a springboard for the group, who are now launching an album called “Gone With the Devil” via Metal Blade Records.

Their latest studio effort is a ten-track album that opens with “Dare to Rebel”. Yoth Iria’s roots are in black metal, and bassist and lyricist Jim Mutilator has played in bands such as Rotting Christ and Varathron. However, the new album shows fewer of these influences, yet still has a blackened edge. Listening to the opener, it becomes apparent that Yoth Iria is more about dark metal featuring folk elements, as in “The Blind Eye of Antichrist”. The latter is a pulsating, haunting song built on an old Orthodox chant. Female vocals, the rasping voice of He and blastbeats are all elements that reflect Yoth Iria’s musical approach. “The Blind Eye of Antichrist” certainly exemplifies musical influences, but the other songs on the album follow a similar structure.

With “3am”, the band creates a gloomy atmosphere, intensified by a dense sound, which gives the entire album an extra boost of power.

No matter which song you listen to, there is always a solid melody at its core. Listen to “Blessed Be He Who Enters” and you will appreciate this. The song even has a certain Dark Tranquillity vibe, which demonstrates the range of influences on which Yoth Iria base their music.

In “Give ‘Em My Beautiful Hell”, the folk elements come to the fore, while “The End of the Known Civilization” mirrors the hellish grin of Lucifer. The album ends with a throbbing metal song, entitled ‘Harut-Government-Fallen’. It is a mesmerising rhythm that drives the closer, creating a captivating and enthralling sound.

“Gone with the Devil” is a blistering metal album. There is a blackened touch, and the album has a sulphurous undertone. At the same time, Yoth Iria take a broader approach to metal than simply relying on black elements. There are plenty of folk influences and a gothic vibe, not to mention well-crafted melodies. These elements give “Gone with the Devil” a high level of variation and provide a great flow. Yoth Iria is a band to keep in mind, and “Gone With the Devil” is an album worth checking out.