One year after their successful debut album Mystic Places of Dawn, Chris Antoniou, guitarist and one of the former members of Septic Flesh leaves for now the band in order to continue his guitar and orchestration studies at UK. Spiros and Sotiris remain back to continue the vision of Septic Flesh and in 1995 they release their second attempt, Esoptron. For one more time the production was made by Septic Flesh and Necromantiaʼs Magus Wampyr Daoloth, a good production but definitely not the best for such a wonderful release. In this album all the music and lyrics were written by Sotiris and it seems that heʼs pouring his soul into this release exposing his very own esoptron. According to the music, Septic Flesh, when time comes to relate Esoptron with their debut album, lower the speed of their compositions, but without losing in aggression, and at the same time the dark and mystic atmosphere becomes more descriptive evoking pictures of our inner self along with the esoteric lyrics. This time the influences from the ancient Greek culture are way more obvious and more intense than the ones in Mystic Places of Dawn and they add a unique mystic and ethereal feeling to the whole atmosphere. Dark Romanticism and Ancient Memory is what exactly this album is made of.

Esoptron is a deeply esoteric album expressing the inner self of everyone who is willing to stare at the mirror of his soul, his very own esoptron, of everyone that has the courage to face his very own reflection and know the mysteries that dwell deep into the abyss of his soul. Are you ready to lose yourself into a world where thereʼs just you and your shadow, from where only one can return? If you think you can face yourself take a stare at the mirror of your soul and let Esoptronʼs chants echo

The journey to the core your soul begins by Breaking the Inner Seal and serene eerie keyboard melodies echo prefacing Esoptron, an elegiac composition based on guitar chords and tranquil guitar riffing in the background (some outbursts can be heard but they donʼt affect the tranquility that this composition exudes) and some keyboard melodies that echo here and there whilst Spirosʼ vocals express the pathway to your inner sanctum where youʼll know who you really were, who you really are. Burning Phoenix that follows begins in a calm way to turn into a flaming outburst with Spiros sounding ecstatic as never before; the whole atmosphere is so devout, atmosphere based on Sotirisʼ chants and the wonderful riffing and expressing the beauty of the Phoenix, the flaming bird that was born to fly.

As the album flows you lose yourself for a few seconds in the Astral Sea of tranquility, a tranquility that wonʼt last long since the following composition Rain is a fiery maelstrom with great guitar riffing, beautiful-sounding small solos and inspired guitar chords that echo here and there evoking a dark feeling. After the Rain snow falls down and you lose yourself into the Ice Castle, a wonderful composition with an eerily dreamy atmosphere; the keyboard melodies whenever they enter the song along with some serene chants bring forth the calmness of a wintry sunset and the guitars, acoustic or electric, they pace with the whole wintry feeling that this composition evokes. Some seconds of ancient beauty follow through Celebration and beautiful melodies echo praising the welcome of the Succubus Priestess, a composition filled with an unearthly delightful feeling, with ecstatic howls by Spiros and ethereal chants by Sotiris and, of course, inspired guitar riffing.

So clean, so empty continues the album in an aggressive way but it is also filled with slower atmospheric moments with wonderful keyboard melodies and beautiful-sounding guitar solos. Oriental melodies echo as you see with The eyes of Set, a composition with imposing and mystic atmosphere; for one more time the guitar work is exceptional with beautiful solos, riffing and acoustic chords creating an elegiac composition! As every journey has its end, the inner journey of Åóïðôñïí ends with Narcissism, a 9-minute monumental composition, beginning with whispers, devout chants and mystic atmosphere-evoking keyboard ideas making the whole composition sound more intense at times whilst at others sounds so soft, so tranquil prefacing the entrance of the wonderful guitar riffing and Spirosʼ deep brutal voice. Natalia lends her ethereal voice to some parts of the song accompanying Sotirisʼ chants and the song and the whole album slowly reach the end with an inspired melancholic guitar solo. The journey is over, where you strong enough to return or you remained back, forgotten in oblivion, you and your shadows...?

Highlights of the album? Nah It flows as one and it definitely should be a part of your collection.

They are the grass, we are the blade that reaps redemption
Praise Set and join the storm that will turn their hopes into dust