adg211288 Dark Pantheons (2014) is an EP release by US death metal act Agiel. It is the first offering from the band since the demo Vessatu (2005), although their only really major prior release would be the debut full-length album Dark Pantheons Again Will Reign (2002). The similarities in name go beyond a throwback to past successes that Agiel are really only now moving on from; the EP is made up of five tracks from the earlier album, rerecorded and reimagined. New material is set to be recorded later in the year, so Dark Pantheons is perhaps best considered as a re-introductory release given the years it's been since the world last heard from Agiel.

I hadn't heard of Agiel prior to this EP, but if my research is accurate then on Dark Pantheons Again Will Reign they played brutal technical death metal. The sound on Dark Pantheons is similar but also draws on symphonic black metal. They remind me a bit of Norwegians Dimmu Borgir in these instances but overall maintain the direct and aggressive approach of a death metal act so a more apt comparison would be Italians Fleshgod Apocalypse. It's pretty dark and intense work and is certainly well played from a technical standpoint, with good use of symphony to add atmosphere and a mix of growls and clean vocals.

The trouble with Dark Pantheons is that it's made up of five tracks that just manage to pass me by without leaving much of a lasting impression in either a positive or negative sense. I've given the EP several listens and it's happened every time that I can't recall much about it after the event. What understanding I've got of it has come from really having to focus on the details and throwing the whole concept of kicking back and enjoying music on the window. Nothing stands out to say Hey, that's good! or even No, I don't like that. The musicians are obviously more than competent but the EP itself only makes enough of an impression to make me semi-interested in what they might do to follow it up. 2.5 Stars is fair in this case because Agiel do have an interesting sound that might come good for them when they put out some material that was originally written with it in mind.