Litany is a new band from Greece that plays epic doom metal, in the likes of Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus and Doomsword. When I heard of the band, I thought that they were an avant-garde (let's call them likewise, they are unclassified) band from Thessaloniki, but these guys are coming from our capital, Athens.
The CD contains five songs, which are a first sample of the band's capabilities. I can understand that they are at their beginning, but I can't find easily something that would prove me about the potential of the band. I do not want to discourage anyone, but we can't talk seriously about Litany's future under these circumstances. They have some –few- good ideas, but unfortunately they are all lost in the maze of Greek metal cliches.
I will not refer to the production, as this is a rehearsal recording, clearly indicated by the title, but to the performance of the band and how well they fit together. The vocals are absonant and weak, while the few growling ones are out of time and place. The band should really reconsider the "construction" of the songs as many parts in them are superfluous and impel the listener to boredom.
I know that the mere existence of the band is another brick in the Greek doom metal scene, but I think that the Greek bands have to try even more to compete the other European or American ones. I believe that the aim of the Greek doom metal scene shouldn't be the quantity (it was always limited), but the quality. So I will wait for Litany to work more, to come stronger next time and to prove this review wrong. I have admitted in the past my wrong judgment about a band and I will do it again, if needed.