Gorgon – Ishassara – Single Review

Gorgon, the French symphonic death metal dealers, are back with “Ishassara”, a short and tragic story written by Gorgon founder and vocalist Paul Thureau and taken from their forthcoming album slated for release in 2018.

Taking place in ancient Crete, “Ishassara” tells the tale of a tortured man who devotes his entire existence to the goddess Ishassara and is a suitably bombastic slab of prime symphonic death metal!

Matching an ethereal quality with orchestral flourishes, a middle-eastern vibe and all manner of growls, blast-beats and soaring solos, Gorgon have delivered everything you’d expect from a symphonic death metal track….and they’ve delivered it damn well!

With subject matter proving as heavy as the music (faith, fanaticism and the overriding hypocrisy of religion drive “Ishassara”), this sort of music is meant to raise the hairs on the back of your neck and Gorgon do exactly that. Historical/mythical context is one thing but without that gut-churning, shiver inducing sense of grandeur, symphonic metal (of any kind) falls flat on its ass but Gorgon stand proud as a band of considerable power.

“Ishassara” is a cracking track….roll on 2018 and the follow up full length to 2016’s Titanomachy! 7/10