The Abyss Looks Back: Passage’s Debut Dives into Darkness and Glory

The gates of heavy metal glory refuse to shut this month! Just days after the third thunderous edition of Dying Victims Attack Festival shook the foundations, the fires are already burning for the 25th Anniversary of Keep It True. April is flexing its metal might, and we’re all here for it.

While the echoes of battle still ring in my ears, I stumbled across a new force rising from the lands of Athens, Greece—PASSAGE. Their self-titled debut album dropped March 28th via Steel Gallery Records, and let me tell you, this one caught me off guard like a surprise axe to the chest.

I was innocently clicking through random uploads when the album cover struck me like a power chord from another dimension—think Stargate meets arcane wizardry. A swirling portal, a grand magus opening the way to unknown realms… this visual sorcery, conjured by Manthos Stergiou of Manster Design, sets the tone perfectly. The intro track instantly reminded me of the very thing that first lured me into the modern heavy metal underground—Triumpher’s epic Storming the Walls. And just like that, I was pulled into Passage, track by track, no pauses, no regrets.

The band lineup reads like a fresh incantation from a black grimoire: Spyros Gold on bass, Pepper D’Koll on drums, Chris Shizo and Mimis on guitars, and Markos Darko handling vocal duties. None of these names are well-known—and that’s exactly the point. No recycled riffs, no secondhand sounds. This is uncharted territory.

After the atmospheric intro, Tempter from Heaven kicks the doors down with a sinister blend of influences—imagine a long-lost Fates Warning demo colliding with the chilling drama of King Diamond. The vocals dance on that razor’s edge of eeriness and power, while the instrumentals drop you into a dark soundscape where progressive flairs and hidden synths swirl beneath the surface. It’s a modern production, yes, reminiscent of early ‘90s metal, but it works. Every detail rings out in crisp, eerie clarity.

From there, the descent deepens. Into the Abyss cranks up the drama with perfectly timed instrumental breaks and a chilling lyrical moment—
"Don’t you look at the Abyss!"
"When you look at the Abyss… the Abyss looks back at you!"
Is this a reflection on inner darkness, or something far more arcane? Either way, it grabs you by the soul.

Then comes Fates Reveal—an instant fist-raiser that barrels into early Priest territory with speed and flair. The influence of Fates Warning is undeniable, yet it’s woven with fresh melodic breaks and unforgettable choruses that light up your brain like a stage pyro blast.

Her Desolate Land ventures into the progressive plains, reminiscent of early ‘90s U.S. prog metal—but it never gets indulgent. It’s prog with purpose, never breaking the flow of the album, and surprisingly easy to sink into.

Eternal Frost delivers catchy riffing and melodic firepower, calling to mind the likes of Enforcer and Skull Fist, while Devoid of Reality leans into vocal storytelling, growing darker and darker until the synth-driven bridge builds tension like a war-drum countdown. And then it hits—the finale.

Dawning War is the apex. With palm-muted riffs, soaring vocals, and an overwhelming sense of dread and glory, this is Passage’s defining moment. The song builds like a storm—vocals take the lead in the first half before the instruments surge forward, charging into a final battle that explodes with a dramatic half-step shift. It’s epic, it’s powerful, and it’s Markos’s finest vocal moment. This is how you end a record—with fire in your lungs and steel in your heart.

The whole album was brought to life at Sound Symmetry Studio, recorded and produced under the watchful eye of Bob Katsionis. And damn, they knew what they were doing. While it won’t be everyone’s cup of molten lead—yes, the vocals might take a moment to click—it’s undeniably a killer release. Bold, dark, and true.

So here’s the call to arms, metalheads: SUPPORT the underground.
This album is available digitally and on CD, and deserves a vinyl pressing in the near future. Let’s make that happen.

🔥 Get it on Bandcamp: https://passageheavymetal.bandcamp.com/album/passage
🔥 Or through Steel Gallery Records: https://steelgallery.com/metal-store/product/passage-passage-cd-pre-order/

Passage - Passage

Raise your fists, blast this album, and hail the new titans from Athens—PASSAGE are here, and they’re bringing the war with them.