Looks like a busy Spring season for bassist Tas Danazoglou. The debut album from Friends of Hell is being released through Rise Above in March, and in April he’ll follow that with Mirror‘s The Day Bastard Leaders Die on Cruz Del Sur. The two acts share in common an affinity for heavy and dark sounds of old, but Mirror have shown in the past a willingness to embrace not only more melody, but progressive songwriting aspects to go with their emergent NWOBHM influence. Oh yeah and dude also plays in Satan’s Wrath, so, you know, keeping busy.

There’s a lot of metal bandying about its “trueness” these days. Fine. I’ll be interested to hear how much Mirror work to bend that trueness to their own purposes, since when last they left off, that seemed to be where they were headed. One way or the other, as with much of Cruz Del Sur‘s output these days, it’s a piece of well curated aesthetic that’s bound to at least live up to the PR wire’s description. Some labels earn your trust. Cruz Del Sur has mine.

Here’s to “Demon Candles”:

Multi-National Metal Band MIRROR to Release The Day Bastard Leaders Die in April on Cruz Del Sur Music

Multi-national metallers Mirror return with The Day Bastard Leaders Die, nine stirring, melody-driven numbers that catch the true spirit of NWOBHM and 70s proto-rock! The album will be released on CD, vinyl, and digital formats April 22 via Cruz Del Sur Music.

On The Day Bastard Leaders Die, Mirror wields the mighty sword of unbreakable true metal laced with spirit, speed and heaviness across nine songs of sheer triumph!

The 2015 creation of Greek multi-instrumentalist, former Electric Wizard and current Satan’s Wrath bassist Tas (full name: Tasos Danazoglou), Mirror was formed to faithfully pay homage and reinvigorate the long, worn body of classic heavy metal. Their eponymous 2015 debut featured the likes of in-demand producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (Cathedral, Ghost, Paradise Lost) on drums and underground mainstay Matt Olivo (Repulsion) on guitar alongside vocalist Jimmy Mavrommatis and Stamos Koliousis on guitar. That lineup soon gave way to new guitarist Nikolas “Sprits” Moutafis and drummer Daniel Georgiou, who, alongside Tas and Mavrommatis, released the resplendent and firebrand Pyramid of Terror in 2019. With a new record contract in hand with Cruz Del Sur Music, Mirror has emerged even more energized and out for blood with their third studio album, The Day Bastard Leaders Die.

In lockstep with the hallowed sounds of NWOBHM and 1970s proto-rock, Mirror has buckled down on The Day Bastard Leaders Die for songs that are heavier and faster than anything the band has done before. Behind Mavrommatis’s multi-tiered vocal escapades and fervent melodic joyrides, the album’s nine cuts are coated with a sharp, angular degree of songwriting, where twists and turns abound at every corner. Through it all, though, Mirror continually keeps the focus on the unyielding spirit of true metal. Whether it’s the barn-burning opener “Infernal Deceiver,” the fist-banging “Souls of Megiddo,” the raw, raucous, gutter-ready “All Streets Are Evil,” the up-tempo “Sleepy Eyes of Death” and the exploratory, near-progressive title track, Mirror has unleashed an album that brims with purpose and might.

Recorded in Athens, Greece, with producer/engineer Costa Costopoulous, The Day Bastard Leaders Die is every bit the authentic, rousing album that metal die-hards flock to. It’s ultimately a reminder that metal’s future is often rooted in the past. On The Day Bastard Leaders Die, Mirror set out to drive that point home once and for all.

Track Listing:

1. Infernal Deceiver
2. Souls of Megiddo
3. Savage Tales
4. All Streets Are Evil
5. Fire and Hell
6. Stand Fight Victory
7. Sleepy Eyes of Death
8. Demon Candles
9. The Day Bastard Leaders Die

Line-up:
Jimmy Mavrommatis – Vocals
Nikolas “Sprits” Moutafis – Guitar
Dino – Guitar
Tas – Bass
Daniel Georgiou – Drums

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Mirror, Pyramid of Terror (2019)

Newcomer classic metal unit Mirror will release their self-titled debut full-length on Nov. 13 through Metal Blade. The five-piece brings together current and former members of Satan’s Wrath, Repulsion and Electric Wizard, but sounds pointedly like none of them, basking instead in righteous NWOBHM gallop and soaring vocals somewhere between Iron Maiden and rawer, earlier progressive rock. The track “Galleon” careens smoothly and is as battle-ready as its title might lend one toward believing, but remains far from cartoonish power metal and in line stylistically with a heavy revivalism. I haven’t heard the whole thing yet, but if Mirror have an allegiance with occult aesthetics, it would have to make sense.

Founded by bassist Tas Danazoglou (ex-Electric Wizard, Satan’s Wrath) and drummer Jaime Gomez Arellano (also producer for Cathedral, Paradise Lost, and many others), who also recorded Mirror, the band seem to come into their first album with a white-knuckle grasp on what they want to do musically. Vocalist Jimmy Mavromatis is an essential component in making that happen, but the contributions of guitarists Stamos Koliousis (also Satan’s Wrath) and Matt Olivo (also Repulsion) are not to be understated. While the rhythmic foundation is clearly solidified on “Galleon,” the guitars propel the track forward and give Mavromatis a pace to match with his commanding presence. It’s a quick listen, but taken in kind with the previously-unveiled “Heavy King,” goes a long way in demonstrating where Mirror are coming from.

As such, I’m thrilled to be able to host the premiere of “Galleon” today. You’ll find it on the player below, followed by the release details for the self-titled.

Enjoy:

Occult heavy metal conjurors MIRROR will unveil the cult craftings of their self-titled debut through Metal Blade Records on November 13th, 2015.

The brainchild of bassist/die-hard metal connoisseur/Satan’s Wrath vocalist Tas Danazoglou, MIRROR was forged in fire following a chance meeting with London-based producer (Cathedral, Angel Witch, Paradise Lost) and accomplished drummer, Jaime Gomez Arellano. The union ultimately led to the two embarking on a shared musical vision that encompasses a classic hard-rock/proto-metal sound with tasteful songwriting and musicianship. Satan’s Wrath guitarist, Stamos K., was next to join, his musical instincts and considerable production experience suiting the band’s ethos perfectly. Vocalist, Jimmy Mavromatis who, with his operatic tenor, rounded out the growing unit would subsequently join the folks. The ouroboros was completed with the final addition of Los Angeles-based guitarist Matt Olivo whose infamy was earned as the co-founder of grindcore pioneers, Repulsion.

The recording of MIRROR‘s self-titled debut began in London at Orgone Studios (Ghost, Paradise Lost, Cathedral) in the autumn of 2014 with Arellano handling production duties. The recording boasts strong melodic ideas with classic, heavy riffs inspired by the sounds of Scorpions, UFO, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple and the like.

Sample first single, the epic “Heavy King,” where you’ll also find preorder bundles at metalblade.com/mirror.

Mirror Track Listing:
01. Mirror
02. Curse of the Gypsy
03. Year of the Red Moon
04. Heavy King
05. Madness and Magik
06. Galleon
07. Cloak of a Thousand Secrets
08. Orion’s Sword
09. Elysian

Mirror on Thee Facebooks

Mirror at Metal Blade