Greek doomers Tèlma will release their debut album, Ανθρωποβόρος, this Friday, July 25, through Dying Victims Productions. The title is translated into English in the headline above because I couldn’t make WordPress show Greek characters up there. Hey, I’ve only been at this 16 years. Cut me some slack.

The Athens-based outfit — whose name is properly written as Τέλμα — are obviously purposeful in sticking with Greek in title and language, and it becomes part of the aesthetic of the 47-minute eight-song LP. This traditionalism collides headfirst with traditional doom metal. Trad. Doom. Metal. Of the ‘horns up’ variety, and no complaints. Informed by the NWOBHM, Black Sabbath and their own apparent melancholia, Tèlma craft a sound that’s pure classic doom. In light of their decision to sing and put titles in Greek, that the guitar, bass, keys and drums don’t take a more Mediterranean aspect is surprising, but metal is universal, and in the chug of “Αντίο / Goodbye,” the Candlemassian soar led by vocalist Vangelis is a dive into culture all on its own.

Opener “Καλότυχες / Lucky Ones” and “Αντίο / Goodbye” are more forward and on the beat, while “Ερπετό / Serpent” resides more in the pocket and the side-ending “Φωνή / Voice” builds on that with a lumbering chug initially before breaking into minimalist standalone guitar, soon joined in the void by the drums as they build back up to the final, double-kick underscored chorus. Starting off side B, “Θέρος / Summer” has Iommi-circa-Mob–Rules all over its flowing groove and briefly drops to acoustics in the second half, only to return full-bore a short time thereafter. In complement, “Τέλμα / Dead End” feels pointedly heavy. Its slow chug, emotive-even-in-a-different-language vocal and fullness of crash make it a highlight for headbangers ahead of the closing duo “Φανοστάτης / Lamp Post” and “Χώμα / Soil.”

Bass lumbers at the outset of the seven-minute “Φανοστάτης / Lamp Post,” tick-tocking along with the drums before the low-register vocals enter. It’s not until about 2:50 they unveil the full roll, and the vocals that accompany in layers are duly dramatic to suit the ending that feels like a culmination for the whole record. “Χώμα / Soil” is shorter by a minute and has a mournful march, but is less direct in its impact than the song preceding, so comes across a little like an epilogue or a final immersion before they let go. As they have all along since “Καλότυχες / Lucky Ones,” Τέλμα hit hard, but the closer is more about the ambience and the emotion being evoked by the stately oldschool crush of the music.

Of course, there’s a big ol’ language barrier there for probably most listeners who’ll take it on, but if you’re going to let not understanding the words stop you from enjoying a thing, that’ll be your loss. The album streams in its entirety below, followed by more info from the PR wire:

Hailing from Greece’s vital doom scene, Τέλμα (TÈLMA) was formed in 2017 by Marios, Kostis, and Vangelis. All three men were brought together by their love for traditional doom metal, which led them to blend their influences of Russia’s Scald, Chile’s Procession, Reverend Bizarre, and the UK’s Warning into songs of slow, ceremonial, and melancholic atmosphere, also incorporating elements of epic metal whilst staying true to the traditional doom metal spirit. In 2021, the band released the single “Ξίφη Στραμμένα Στο Φοίνικα,” which appeared on the compilation Art Against Censorship. The addition of Chris on drums in early 2024 made possible the completion of their first full-length, Ανθρωποβόρος (English: “Man-Eater”).

Originally released only digitally but now finding physical release courtesy of Dying Victims, TÈLMA’s debut album displays the blanching power of slo-mo emotion and forlorn majesty. Very much firmly within the wider doom pantheon but very much also fully conveying the band’s particular personality, Ανθρωποβόρος nevertheless emits a unique atmosphere due to TÈLMA’s usage of their native tongue: a conscious choice, and a challenge mastered. Fittingly for such literally weighty metal, the album’s lyrics deal with the subjects of inner struggle, emancipation, the man-made misery of this world, and coming to terms with the inevitable end. That TÈLMA are able to weave distinctive melody and transfer those emotions beyond the meaning of the lyrics – no need to say “It’s all Greek to me” here – adds a mysterious, multidimensional element to their epic doom, and suggests further mastery to come. Fans of the aforementioned as well as Solitude Aeternus, DoomSword, and Crypt Sermon are wholeheartedly encouraged to get devoured by Ανθρωποβόρος!

Tracklisting for TÈLMA’s Ανθρωποβόρος
1. Καλότυχες / Lucky ones
2. Αντίο / Goodbye
3. Ερπετό / Serpent
4. Φωνή / Voice
5. Θέρος / Summer
6. Τέλμα / Dead End
7. Φανοστάτης / Lamp Post
8. Χώμα / Soil

Cover art by Jim Pallis.

Line-up:
Marios – Guitars
Kostis – Guitars, Bass, Synthesizers
Vangelis – Vocals
Chris – Drums

Tèlma on Bandcamp

Tèlma on Facebook

Dying Victims Productions website

Dying Victims Productions on Bandcamp

Dying Victims Productions on Instagram

Dying Victims Productions on Facebook

Tags: Athens, Dying Victims Productions, Greece, Man-Eater, Tèlma, Tèlma Man-Eater

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025 at 8:53 am and is filed under audiObelisk, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.