Pantheon I was formed around 2002, and features some members of 1349, Den Saakaldte and Sarkom. Their fairly unique mix of Black Metal with cellos and violins caught my eye at first, but admittedly their debut “Atrocity Divine” didn’t leave that much of an impression on me. Since then, the band has re-shaped a little, released an album a few years ago, and is now set to unveil their third creation, “Worlds I Create”.

 

The years have been kind to Pantheon I, that much is clear from listening to their new album. The intensity and ferocity of the heaviest parts is balanced with the melancholy and atmosphere of the cellos. That obviously is no such thing as reinventing the wheel, but there are very little bands that seem to have the same ability to create songs that delicately balance these parts. As a consequence, the replay value is greatly increased, and I think fans of atmospheric Black Metal will be sure to enjoy the album. The sound is clear, but the guitar is still nice and raw and the only downside is that the drums could have sounded a bit more natural. But that’s just a minor flaw on an album that is otherwise bound to firmly put the name of Pantheon I on the Black Metal map.