Not to be confused with the slew of other bands with the same moniker, HYPERION, the Melodic Black/Death Metal horde from Sweden, have let loose the hounds of war with their debut full-length album "Seraphical Euphony". After a series of lineup changes since their formation in 2007, the time has finally come for  their very first full-length album to be released at the beginning of this month, and HYPERION shows us that this was an opus well worth waiting for.

The gentle instrumental introduction of "Remnants of the Fallen" lulls us into a serene atmosphere before taking on a more fervent and militant tone. This launches us straight into the soaring darkness of "Novus Ordo Seclorum". Black Metal distortions entwine with harshly rasped vocals, whilst the bombastic onslaught of the drums is tempered by moody keyboard strains. "Flagellum Dei" on the other hand has a horror-tinted sound that dances on the precipice of madness. This is an excellent song, which leaves you thinking that HYPERION can't get much better. But then things get switched up, swirling from the more sepulchre melodies of the title song "Seraphical Euphony" all the way to the slower Melodic Death Metal style of "Moral Evasion". HYPERION have managed to capture myriad textures, weaving them flawlessly into a thousand different soundscapes that give each song a completely unique character. For example, the acoustic guitar intro to "Primal Cosmic Ascendancy" lend a poignant counter to the powerful dark riffs that come shredding into the song, making the song that much more hard-hitting. The epic melodies in "Zephyr of Grace" really bring the song to life, allowing HYPERION to really show what they are capable of. Discordant whispers of a guitar usher in the absolute annihilation of "Empyrean Yearning", before ending off the album with the slower soul searing beauty of "Blood of the Ancients", melding brutality with melody.

More organic than the polished, the mixing of "Seraphical Euphony" could have been better. In some parts the guitar, drum, and key tracks are too indistinguishable, subtracting from the power that this album could have had. Especially given that HYPERION have three guitarists, a clearer sound would have made "Seraphical Euphony" a masterpiece. However, given that this debut is otherwise so powerful, one can forgive this small flaw, and the fact remains that this is an excellent effort.

Limited to just 500 copies, this is definitely an album not to be missed. Variation seems to be their golden standard, with each song having its rightful place in this album. There is no fluff, there are no fillers, there are only nine songs that show the world that HYPERION are definitely a band to watch out for. If you haven't heard of them before, here's your chance now.