Can a symphonic black metal band prove that a genre known for favoring themes of doom and evil be something multifaceted and uniquely appealing? The group Homerik answers that question by reaching beyond typical metal proportions. The progressive New York-based trio has created a larger-than-life sound that draws upon a number of influences: among them, Norse mythology, ancient Egypt, the band Deicide, Two Steps from Hell and many others.
The Songs
Homerik resides in a place of epic darkness and high-resolution uploads, which can be orchestrally grand and often poetically surreal. The group’s compositions, which are cleanly mixed and recorded, suggest professional production music, normally associated with high-end film scores, movie trailers and other visual media. Rest assured, Homerik never loses sight of the metal. A prime example is “Unforgotten Kin,” where the vocal work invokes a devilish choir from limbo, which sounds like Hades, perhaps chanting to Beelzebub himself. The drumming is extreme, the guitar edgy and the mood firmly hellish.
Another Homerik original, “A Song of the Night: Part 1,” about a girl’s frightening dreams of abuse and neglect, is
complex and classically inspired, complete with strings and alto and soprano harmonies. At 3:19 into the cut, beauty becomes a beast when the piano melody turns into heavy guitar 
work which takes hold alongside crushing root notes and related fifths; enter the adult voice. “Curse of the Black Nile,” as the title explains, is suitably wrapped in an exotic fantasy of myth and music.
Art, songwriting and literature play an essential role in Homerik’s creative process. Check out the spoken 1:07 “Scary Metal Poetry: William Shakespeare,” on YouTube. There are other interesting tracks worth exploring, as well.
In The Group
Homerik is Obed Rene Gonzalez-Matos – lyricist, vocals; Kenneth Bryan Candelas – lead composer, lyricist,
vocalist, drummer, recording and mixing engineer; and Andrew Michael Petriske – lead lyricist and vocalist.
Other vocalists heard on the recording include Carla Candelas and Nilsa Astacio – “A Song of the Night: Part 1”; and Anita Hilaly – “Curse of the Black Nile.”
The band points out on its website that the music is a result of “a major collaborative effort by friends and colleagues in and around New York City.” As a concept project, illustrated art work by Anton Rosovsky accompanies each Homerik song.
Music Interview Magazine® 