Artwork by: Luis González Palma

Style: Atmospheric Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Post-Metal (Mixed Vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Rotting Christ, Wolves in the Throne Room, Enslaved, Panzerfaust
Country: Germany
Release date: 2 October 2026

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Helios, the Greek God of the Sun, driver of the flaming chariot which granted light to the world of mortals, is not the first association I make with Germanic pagan black metal. Then again, I feel as though the term “pagan” has become a concept flattened by its anti-Abrahamic associations, so much to the point that any unique cultural or ideological frameworks—and thus viewpoints tied to those specific cultures which might limit access—are boiled down to something like a smorgasbord wherein anyone can partake free of charge. Mythology has become part of the public domain, no longer intrinsically tied to and informed by the culture which birthed it. None of this is a slight, rather an observation. Besides, German meloblack outfit Firtan do a pretty good job at pairing the heady spices of Greek myth with their earthy, teutonic foundations on their latest, Helios.

The skies over the Aegean are looking bleak, clouds choked and swollen with the ash kicked up from the war-like drumming of David Kempf. The frontline guitar attack of Phillip Thienger, Christian Strobel, and Lukas Massinger rips through the coverage like harpies wheeling above burning temples, ready to tear apart survivors with razored claws. “Kaiika’s Tongue” is immediately menacing, heavy and oppressive courtesy of the thick, churning riffs and pounding drums—a blueprint Firtan maintain across Helios’ hour runtime with winsome consistency. Even Klara Bachmair’s violin, which may have added a classical whimsy to the affair, instead is wielded in service of the nightmarish occult vein Firtan play with. Her playing wends and twists like a serpent in the fields of the guitars, coaxing out venomous lines that wouldn’t feel out of place in a medieval horror film or a Sold Soul record.

Atmospheric guitarwork on tracks like “Solis Currus” further adds to the black sun vibes of Helios, channeling some of the somber grandeur of Hellenic black metal maestros Rotting Christ while never falling into pastiche or cheap imitation. Thienger’s harshes are throaty and raw, serving the band’s aggressive mode well, while his cleans tap into hypnotic invocations that paint pictures of incense-filled temples packed with robed neophytes gathered in ancient ceremony. Tremolos sweep through burning streets as the band unleash a near-relentless assault of blackened fury. Introspective post-metal riffs combine with Kempf’s plodding, iron-fisted drumming on cuts like “Helios”, creating a melancholic atmosphere that unfurls into a forlorn viciousness as Bachmair’s violin slithers in amidst churning guitar and monotone cleans. The production is thick enough to lend weight to the performances, yet never feels in danger of dragging the music into the depths of illegibility. Oliver König’s bass could do with a bit more presence, but with a keen enough ear one can still hear it holding down the bottom end, solid if never exactly given the chance to be anything spectacular.

Which, really, could be an easy enough way to describe the overall experience of listening to Helios. The album is good but never really manages to climb to the zenith of great. There’s nothing particularly wrong with the album—okay, so maybe Thienger’s vocals are a bit one-note across the record, and some songs (“Helios”, “The Hierophant Way”) perhaps overstay their welcomes a tad—but Helios is by and large a widely entertaining slab of meloblack that leverages an oppressive atmosphere and aggressive war-march momentum to maintain consistency while avoiding monotony. I don’t see this topping any year-end lists but damn if Helios isn’t fun to throw on and let rip. And who said daytime couldn’t be scary?

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Recommended tracks: Kaiika’s Tongue, Ambrosia, The Hierophant Way
You may also like: Varathron, Servant, Fen, Noctule, Dymna Lotva, Cairiss
Final verdict: 7/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Label: AOP Records

Firtan is:
– Oliver König (bass, backing vocals)
– Phillip Thienger (vocals, guitars, keyboards)
– David Kempf (drums)
– Christian Strobel (guitars, vocals)
– Klara Bachmair (violin)
– Lukas Massinger (guitars)
With guests:
– James Dorton (vocals on “The Hierophant Way”)
– Christian Höll (saxophone on “Shadows of a Dawn Unborn”)