ION INDIE MAGAZINE November 2014, Volume 6 | Page 68

Lacrima Dei
CD Review by Kat Zee
Track List:
1. Divine Wrath
2. Lacrima Dei
3. Embrace The Sorrow
4. Portal of Fear
5. Everlasting Pain
6. Web of Shadows
7. Nuntii Belli
8. Loss
9. Devoid of Sanity
10. Commemorate the Fallen
Band:
Maya Kampaki/Vocals
Diman Koutsogiannopoulos/Guitars
Tolis Mikroulis/Keys
Aris Nikoleris/Bass
Panos Paplomatas/Drums
MEDEN AGAN is female-fronted Symphonic Melodic Metal band from Athens, Greece. The band was formed in
November of 2005 in Paris, France by guitarist DIMAN KOUTSOGIANNOPOULOS. They have shared the stage with
many notable bands such as PAIN SALVATION, SKYCLAD, WITHIN TEMPTATION, AFTER ALL, BLOODTALES, ETHS and
THE OLD DEAD TREE. They released their first demo in April 2006, their debut full-length album "Illusions” in
November 2007, the EP "Nemesis--Promo 2010” and "Erevos Aenaon" in September 2011. The new album
"Lacrima Dei", with new female vocalist coloratura soprano MAYA KMPAKI, was released on September 22, 2014,
via NO REGRETS RECORDS (a sub-division of NO REMORSE). This latest offering was mastered at FINNVOX STUDIOS
by the renowned engineer MIKA JUSSILA (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, AVANTASIA and STRATOVARIUS).
The first track “Divine Wrath” opens with hushed spoken words…then changes pace with rich, operatic vocals
backed by driving instruments, reminiscent of NIGHTWISH. Female vocalist Maya Kampaki has a remarkable voice
that is both mysterious and beautiful—and delivers the song with passion. Her emotion-charged vocals are all the
more evident on the haunting ballad “Loss” where I could hear similarities to WITHIN TEMPTATION. Title track
“Lacrima Dei” is bold and has a full gothic sound buoyed by a wonderful harmonic choir treatment with AMARANTHE
elements. “Everlasting Pain” is a powerful song that builds with richly layered vocals and driving guitars and