With their new album, Diviner enter Avaton and we are so grateful for that! The third album of the Greek heavy metallers is a fact and after listening to it, I wanna scream out loud –“yeahhhhhhhh!!!”. It is the band’s best studio release so far and one of the greatest records of the year 2023. Stylistically Diviner move in their familiar heavy/power metal zone and as far as the compositions are concerned, they succeed triumphantly. They have written outstanding songs and with a powerful, clear and loud sound production, they finally offer us a masterpiece, a magnificent music work, which satisfies our appetite for epic, dramatic and lyrical heavy metal. “Avaton” is a selection of hymns, a gripping metal opus for all those who prefer theatrical, emotive, whimsical heavy metal. And although Diviner is being influenced by the masters of 80s metal (for example, Iron Maiden, Dio, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest etc.), they manage to stay fresh. As always singer Yiannis Papanikolaou is a guarantee that the final result will be great – as the leader of the band, he seals the whole album with his beautiful voice. But in general, it is Diviner’s musicianship, songwriting and performing skills that have created a wonderful album. Heavy/power metal never sounded so interesting, all the songs of “Avaton” prove that – even the bonus track is fantastic! The Greeks call us to enter the grounds of “Avaton” – we will surely heed this glorious call! With such albums it is certain that heavy metal will never die!
♦ 8,5/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos
