The Third Eye

Today, we’re going to talk about Telesterion, a band who aren’t really psychedelic in nature. However, they do employ some of the same atmospheric qualities and invoke similar feelings that one may get while listening to several of the psych subgenres. So, without further ado, let’s talk about their new album, Epopteia, which dropped on October 8th.

About Telesterion And Epopteia

Telesterion is a shadowy organization of musicians whose names and origins are unknown but whose music must be known to all with ears!

Their band name references an ancient Greek temple, a great hall, and a sanctuary in Eleusis. It was where the “initiation ceremonies known as the Eleusinian Mysteries” took place. “This hall provides information about how these ceremonies were held and reveals much about the Eleusinian Mysteries. The attention paid to the elaborate details of this building shows how important these ceremonies were to the Greeks.” (https://pleiades.stoa.org)

Telesterion similarly takes great care and pride in the crafting of their music, further enhancing the importance that this great hall held for the Ancient Greeks and the significance that the band members have also placed upon it.

The Songs

1. Gathering (01:29)

A brief intro that sets the tone for Epopteia and that also leads to “To The Sea” nicely.

2. To The Sea (05:11)

If you have yet to hear Telesterion, then this is the track that will give you the perfect taste of what they do. The guitar riffs have a heavy edge to them, but it’s the post-metal vibes of Solstafir that pulled me in. The choral vocal work reeks of occultism, but not in a negative fashion; they’re one of the highlights of this band’s music.

3. Hither The Victims (05:26)

The beginning of this one has a black metal feel, only without the speed and aggressive approach. It’s more within how they put the music together and the vocals used, which is more in line with the atmospheric black metal genre. Ever present is their trademark vocal work and a heavy vibe that doesn’t require what we traditionally think of as “heavy.”

4. Festival (03:55)

I won’t claim that this is the best track on the album, but it is far from the worst, too. The post-metal and shoegaze vibes are a large part of the music, and the orchestration used adds a great deal of power to it as well. There’s a big occult sound as well, which is true of pretty much every track on this record.

5. Pilgrimage (06:50)

This is a shoegaze-heavy track that also incorporates a dose of post-metal and doom. There’s a lot of beauty within the music on “Pilgrimage” and an ethereal atmosphere that truly puts this track over the top. The choral vocal performances add to it wonderfully, making me think that any music fan can find something to love here.

6. Revelry (05:23)

Here, we find another song that utilizes atmospheric black metal sounds to its advantage. It’s odd to me how well that influence works within the context of this band’s music, but a very welcome one nonetheless. I mentioned earlier that this isn’t what we usually consider psychedelic, but there are hints to be heard throughout the album.

7. The Descent (04:27)

A descent into great music is what you’ll get with “The Descent.” There’s the occult mixed with the ethereal atmospheric qualities of post and black metal and more beautiful vocal performances that are a staple of the band’s sound. There’s not a lot of new ground being broken, but I would have it no other way when it comes to Telesterion.

8. The Search (05:27)

This track begins with familiar yet different sounds, making it one of the standout tracks on Epopteia. I love everything about this one so much that I won’t spoil it for you by delving into it … I want you to experience it with no preconceptions or biases.

9. The Ascent (08:04)

I knew that this was going to be my favorite track as soon as this song began. There is an air of mystery surrounding the band, but of all the songs, this is the one that truly portrays that mystery with sound. I love the vocals immensely; the choral meets occult ritual vibe they bring is simply astounding and perfectly befitting of the musical component displayed here. While it doesn’t stray too far from their overall formula, there is still a change in approach, like a shoegaze/post-metal meets black metal idea. The black metal is more in feel and within the drumming style in the back half of the song, but that genre’s icy fingers can still be felt by listeners.

Final Thoughts

There’s so much to love on Epopteia, and I won’t attempt to list them all here. I heavily suggest you give them a serious, focused listen and make up your mind on the music of Telesterion. You can find them on Bandcamp unless that service falls apart like people are thinking … boy, I hope that doesn’t turn out to be the case. So head over there now, and get ready for the ethereal sounds of Telesterion!

Support Telesterion by finding them on Bandcamp.

This review was written by Tom Hanno, who has been writing reviews for the last 7 years but has been sharing his love of music for the majority of his life. Originally starting out at the now-defunct Chimera Magazine, he is currently contributing to Doomed and Stoned, The Sleeping Shaman, The Doom Charts, Tom’s Reviews, and The Third Eye. Read more of Tom’s reviews by checking out his Linktree.

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