For those unaware, the Kryptoportikus project is a collaboration between producer / composer / musician Chris Techritz (SCATTERFACE, ex-=FUDGE=, Carrier, Kerjer) and Franz Herde, vocalist on the two albums Life Cycle (1988) and Steps (1990) of the progressive metal cult band SIEGES EVEN.

Both musicians met in 2015 and started their own project, initially under the name CARRIER. In order to record a full album as part of the collaboration, they decided on the name Kryptoportikus, under which the current album Dark Rainbow is released.

Musically, the two musicians deliver flawless old school retro trash metal, paired with themes about Greek mythology. A number of musician friends also contributed to the production such as Oliver Holzwarth (Sieges Even, Blind Guardian), Marc Nickel (Bleeding), Spider the Akronaut (Simeon Soul Charger), Tom Brennes (Mynd) and Alex Kreuch (Art Of Delusion, Violent Heart).

1. Stormy Seas (1:51)
2. Imperial Machine (3:17)
3. Dark Rainbow (4:17)
4. The Wanderings of Lilysses (6:29)
5. Argonautica Part I (1:29)
6. Ruins of Troy (5:30)
7. Medusa’s Speech (1:13)
8. The Curse of Medusa (4:12)
9. Argonautica Part II (3:43)
10. The Oracle (5:25)
11. Sparta and Athens (4:22)
12. Argonautica Part III (1:38)

This monstrously melodic, rhythmically efficient new album opens on the atmospherically-charged scenescape Stormy Seas and the forcefully spirited Imperial Machine and then we get the puissant title track Dark Rainbow, the magnificently sculpted opus The Wanderings of Lilysses, and the goth-rocker Ruins of Troy.

Along next is the aptly-named Medusa’s Speech and the melodiously-driven The Curse of Medusa and they are in turn followed seamlessly by some brilliant, yet harmonically screaming guitar work that propels Argonautica Part II, a mid-tempo, growled ballad in the form of The Oracle, the album rounding out on the strident force of Sparta and Athens, closing on the all-encompassing, melodically tapered Argonautica Part III.

The album Dark Rainbows will be released via Fastball Music as both a CD and a 12 inch vinyl with an eight page booklet.

Kryptoportikus - Imperial Machine (Official Video)

Official Purchase Link