Born between the UK and Morocco from the mysterious singer/multi-instrumentalist known as The Orator, TZEVAOT is a vehicle through which the occult - not just theatrics, but actual hidden mechanisms of reality - are unveiled. Merging the ever-malleable black metal sound with death, thrash and heavy metal elements, and with progressive, classical and jazz compositional influences, TZEVAOT's first offering - appropriately named "The Hermetic Way" is a dive into the ancient school of mystical understanding which ultimately gave rise to the modern scientific disciplines, bridged the gaps between pagan and Abrahamic theology, and bestowed the world with the greatest practical synthesis of Graeco-Egyptian wisdom.

The album has nine songs, and "Peime-nte-rê (The Supreme Nous Speaks!)" is the first proper track. In traditional Black Metal form, the production is raw and high on the treble side of things.  The music however is a balanced mix of Death and Black Metal, with both Progressive and Classical elements blended in well. "Solve et Coagula" has more scratchy Black Metal vocals and thick guitars, this time augmented with piano. Some of the chord progressions go to unexpected places as well, and there is even some melody, although it is suffocated by the dark riffs. "Zosimos the Alchemist" is a shorter and faster ride, with black beat drumming and pretty piano melodies at times. The stark contrast between the two showcases a songwriter with real talent.

"Pyres of Meaning Light the New Aeon's Way" explores several different paths, and the music seems chaotic at times, but it's shooting forth feelers and testing the waters. There are pacing changes, and meter changes. "The Emerald Table of Thoth" is another shorter ride that mixes in both piano and keyboards with the Black Metal filth. There are also subtle meter shifts, and just try to keep up with them. "Air Fire Water Earth" has cadenced vocals that are still intense and raging, and the music bites back hard as well. There are more piano notes, and at times, they are downright Jazzy, and I also pick up on a bit of IRON MAIDEN influenced riffs. "The Hero of Megiddo" goes the opposite way…with a jovial, almost carnival sounding song with clean vocals and plenty of melody.

"Metempsychosis" closes the album, and the stew is even thicker and with more seasonings. Some of the riffs however are straight out of the 80's, and the audible bass notes offer a totally different structure. Is The Orator" a mad scientist of sorts? You can make up your own mind on that. The album throws a lot your way…although it is Black Metal at its core, there are so many more elements and mediums used in the music, including piano (which he is excellent at) and a thorough understanding of how to best compose a song that is both conventional and experimental at the same time.