REVIEW: HEATHENDOM – Symbolist

 

HEATHENDOM – Symbolist

Metal On Metal Records

Written in 2010

Symbolist is the second full-length album by the Greek metal band HEATHENDOM and their first proper studio release following their earlier demo recordings. Released by Metal On Metal Records in 2010, the album places the band firmly within the traditional metal spectrum, drawing mainly from mid-tempo power metal while incorporating clear doom metal influences that give the music a darker and heavier atmosphere.

The production favors clarity and balance, allowing the riffs and vocal lines to remain prominent without excessive polish. Stylistically, HEATHENDOM rely on steady tempos, epic-leaning melodies, and a restrained use of dynamics rather than speed or technical excess. This approach reinforces the album’s somber tone, though it also exposes certain limitations in the songwriting.

While the album contains several interesting moments and well-constructed passages, the material does not always manage to sustain the listener’s interest throughout its full duration. In this respect, the band’s earlier demo—also re-released by Metal On Metal Records a few months prior—felt more focused and left a stronger overall impression.

That said, Symbolist is a solid and respectable effort that reflects HEATHENDOM’s commitment to traditional metal values. Fans of mid-tempo power metal with doom metal characteristics, particularly those interested in the Greek underground scene, will likely find the album worthwhile. However, listeners who are not already inclined toward this style may find it less engaging.

Ioannis  Kaskamanidis