Founded in Greece in 1987, Piranha are one of the oldest bands of the Greek metal scene. Four years ago the band was reunited and in 2020 they released their latest full-length work, entitled “Arise from the Ashes”.
The “Arise from the Ashes” is my introduction to the sound of Piranha and while I didn’t have the chance to listen to the record when it was released, I am happy to say that it is one of the best and most entertaining albums I have listened to recently. My only wish is that I had discovered it back in 2020. It would definitely earn a spot in the list with that year’s best releases.
The album, musically, belongs under the umbrella term of extreme metal, yet it is split between genres. What at first seems to be an explosive, raw deathened thrash album judging by the opening track “Nuclear Disease”, the album slowly and smoothly starts to change direction. With the first signs shown in the track “Eternal Night”, by the third track ,“Endless Dream”, the Piranha have moved towards the melodic-death genre, leaving their thrash past slightly behind, focusing more into heavy metalized riffs with epic, melodic lead lines. While the aggression remains intact and the harsh, wretched vocal tear through the compositions, the speed slightly drops and a sense of death metal groove is shown, which fused with the epic and melodic elements offers a great melodic-death sound.
Piranha have absolutely returned with hunger and desire to produce memorable and great extreme metal. The “Arise from the Shadows” is an underground extreme metal album that needs our support and is worthy of our listening time. Two years may have passed from the record’s original release, but it is never too late to support and pay attention to great metal works.
1. Nuclear Disease 04:49
2. Eternal Night 04:39
3. Endless Dream 03:54
4. Reborn 05:48
5. Rotten Mind 03:58
6. Dead Boat 04:37
7. Arise from the Shadows 05:42
8. Haze
