ORDER OF THE EBON HAND - GREECE

The Mystic Path To The Netherworld - 1997 - Hypervorea
XV: The Devil - 2005 - Season Of Mist
VII: The Chariot - 2019 - More Hate/Satanath
XI: Justice - 2025 - Satanath

Order Of The Ebon Hand image
  
 
Members
Vocals
Naer Mataron, Nocternity, Mournblade, Primeval Mass, Yoth Iria>>MERKAAL [ORESTIS OIKONOMOPOULOS]>>Naer Mataron, Nocternity, Mournblade, Primeval Mass, Yoth Iria

Guitar
Lorthar>>Ember Sun, Median Omega - PHLAIGON/ASMODEUS

Bass
Nocternity, Mournblade>>MERKAAL [ORESTIS OIKONOMOPOULOS]>>Nocternity, Mournblade

Drum
Πνευματική Διάψευση, Depression, Chaostar, Septicflesh, Thou Art Lord, Mournblade, Horrified>>Lethe [Akis Kapranos]>>Πνευματική Διάψευση, Depression, Chaostar, Septicflesh, Thou Art Lord, Mournblade, Horrified, Bastard Sword - Acheron's Chaos, Decomposed Existence, Mystfall, Carnal Garden, Blessed Perversion>>DEIMOS [DIMITRIS MIGLIS[>>Mystfall, Carnal Garden, Blessed Perversion

Keyboard
Mournblade>>Lethe [Akis Kapranos]>>Mournblade - OBSIDIAN




History & Biography
The occult act was active between August 1994 and 1998 before disbanding. Lorthar was the founding guitarist. Conventions must be adhered to and so the act returned in 2001. A self-titled demo was recorded and released in 1995. The debut album was issued in 1996. It was called The Mystic Path To The Netherworld. The album tagged the aforementioned demo onto newer songs. The band was singer and bassist Merkaal, guitarist Lorthar and drummer and keyboard player Lethe. An album called Avatar Trinity went unpublished given that the label had gone broke and the band then broke up.

Post reformation, the band issued XV: The Devil. Lethe and Merkaal were joined by guitarist Phlaigon. The next one was on a new label and appeared 14 years later. Asmodeus (a.k.a. Phlaigon) was on guitar here. XI: Justice. Deimos was on drums. Obsidian did piano (Elton John, Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles). The band was booked for Golden R. Festival in Greece in the summer of 2025.

The band's monicker was likely inspired by the tabletop and digital card from the Magic: The Gathering game. The later album titles are inspired by tarot cards. Lethe writes for Metal Hammer magazine in Greece.


Reviews

ORDER OF THE EBON HAND - VII : THE CHARIOT - SATANATH  
Order Of The Ebon Hand is back after 14 years without a full release with three recent new members that include a keyboard player. The opening Deadnaught is mid-paced and doesn't really get going. The keyboards appear a few times in the background to perhaps foreshadow the upcoming songs. Mopes (The Night's Mare) is up next, is the shortest song at just over three and half a minutes and a speedy black metal makes its first appearance. Merkaal screams louder too but there is a bit of piano to interrupt it all. Wings starts with impressive though hardly original black metal blasting and riffing and keeps its pace throughout. Sabnock features Sakis Tolis of Rotting Christ on guest vocals and quickly picks up where Wings left off. Early Marduk is one possible point of reference when these Greeks are at their best. Knight Of Swords starts ballad like then standard riffs re-appear, they don't scream originality but don't disappoint either. Aianas features a slightly different sort of singing, almost like a person in agony and this is confirmed with the narrator questioning his fate when all the gods are his enemies and the dismay in the disability to stop his suffering. A short mid-paced section adds variation to go with the downtrodden theme. Bael returns to the speedy direct riffs with the drums keeping up with the pace. The Slow Death Walk is indeed as it is says. A slow march to start that features the most synthesizers of VII: The Chariot. It remains dominated by the aforementioned instrument before and after speeding up somewhat. The song doesn't leave all black metal sounds behind and provides a good dose of screams and riffs too. The cover art features a black horse on the left and a white horse on the right. – Anna Tergel


Interviews







Order Of The Ebon Hand