Just two years after the magnificent “Magna Mater”, the Athenian progsters are releasing their fifth full-length album with the unusual title “T”. A work that lyrically explores the endless wars started by the powerful to oppress the weak, drawing in some songs on passages from poems by Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Odysseas Elytis and Yiannis Ritsos. If nothing else, it’s a very powerful theme, which is, of course, once again accompanied by highly compelling music.
Mother Of Millions is, in any case, a band that is musically restless by nature, a fact that is confirmed here as well. The keyboards, which used to be a central element in their compositions, are now completely absent here. It’s not just their logical refusal to replace Makis Tsamkosoglou, who passed away unexpectedly in 2019, but now drummer and founding member George Boukaouris has also left; he had taken over some of those parts (both in the studio and at concerts), with his spot behind the drum kit now being filled by their longtime producer since “Sigma”, Hector D.
On the one hand, the result is heavier than usual if we take, for example, parts of “The Innocent”, “The One” and “The Sun.” In fact, the latter, which also features extreme vocals, even brings to mind Gojira. On the other hand, it is at once lyrical, atmospheric and epic. This is enhanced by the various guest artists who have been brought on board. Dimitris Anastasiou and Nikos Milas on violin, as well as Antonia Mavronikola, Sofia Kamina and Emi Path on backing vocals have left their mark on nearly every track on the album, while George “Ravaya” Tzavaras, guitarist for the mighty Need, makes a brief appearance on spoken word segments.
Overall, “T” may bring to the listener’s mind the melodies and atmosphere of “Sigma”, but it still retains the heavier side they introduced with “Magna Mater”. It’s an album that, while drawing on elements from the band’s history and preserving the core of their signature sound, also introduces new elements, contributing to their ongoing need for evolution. I don’t think we need to ask for anything more from one of the most distinctive and high-quality bands in our country. Once again, they’ve delivered a top-notch record. Rise, Evolve!
