This is Corrosion

Origins of the 7 Deadly Sins is the debut album by the Greek duo known as Akr?n, out on the US label, Hypervoxx Recordings. There is a blending of many elements, from such genres as darkwave, ebm/industrial, movie soundtracks, and almost, dare I say, new age. This album strikes me as a soundtrack to some unknown movie, like a sequel to Blade Runner, which contains a fusion of classical orchestral sounds and futuristic synth lines. The music has a majestic, sweeping quality which glides through the industrial/darkwave arena, carrying the listener along for an enjoyable ride. Highlights of the album include "Hermit", the most grandiose-sounding track, "Resurrection", the most EBM, and "Killing Time" a most energetic, catchy track. There are some fleeting female vocals in the introduction track, and also on "Resurrection", but other than that, this is an instrumental album. Instrumental albums are fine, but they can easily slip into the "background music" category. I believe Origins of the 7 Deadly Sins teeters on the edge of that line, but manages to pull through. The addition of more vocals or samples might be a nice touch, but they might not fit within the musical tapestry that Akr?n has woven.

Origins of the 7 Deadly Sins is a technically impressive album, production-wise, especially for a debut release. This album is certainly a soundtrack for the future of Akr?n, one that I would say looks very bright for them, indeed. Legion 8/10

ReGen Magazine

Hard EBM and classical bombast meet on the stunning debut album from this Greek duo. Bringing a new flavor to hard electronic music without sacrificing any of the genre's tried and true formulas, Greek duo Akron's debut album is a refreshingly sophisticated take on EBM, incorporating hard industrial beats with soundtrack-inspired classical arrangements and just a touch of progressive trance. With the exception of darkwave-style female vocals on "Resurrection," this CD is entirely instrumental; instead of morbid growled couplets, the memorable parts of "Chronicles" and "I Failed You" come from delicate piano lines, richly arranged choral pads, and larger-than-life string arrangements. The beats, meanwhile, are solid industrial club killers; violins or not, there's no mistaking this for some foray into gothic chamber music. Without the stereotypical distorted vocals, Akron is also free to indulge in more progressive techno influences, as well. "Hermit" and "Killing Time" in particular display strong overtones from the trance scene, with lots of dramatically building synth lines in and amongst the sampled brass and string sections. Dark though it may be, a good portion of this album would fit nicely into a rave set as well as your local industrial club. It's sinister and cinematic, but unlike your typical horror movie soundtrack, it'll keep your body moving on the dance floor.By: Matthew Johnson

Chain D.L.K

"What can compositions like "Chariots of Fire", "Lucifer", "Popcorn" or "Zarathrouska" have to do with this release? Well, above mentioned pieces are so-called "Synthesizer Classics" and got coupled and re-assembled several times, those tracks are undying melodies which will survive milleniums. If the tracks of this new signing for the Hypervoxx label will reach this status is rather questionable. But musically the compositions of this duo hailing from Greece tend into the same direction. I could resist to have a listen of their stuff in advance through their Myspace account, as I've heard about their signing. So the surprise was on the side of Simon and Yiannis and the label. AKRON, written originally with the Greece letter O (Omega) simply to document their belonging, play a sort of instrumental Industrial-Orchestral music. It is a never heard before mixture featuring several string and classic sounds, human voice sounds, warm synth bass lines and a mostly straight forward attitude. The result is remarkable, real and experienced synth play is balsam for my wounded ears. Comparisons are hard to figure out, parts of ENIGMA, INTERMIX or ALAN PARSONS (also regarding "Lucifer") come to mind. One and only point to criticize is the too short playing time of only 39 minutes. Nevertheless it is somehow to hope that this project will earn the deserved attention. I agree totally with the label sheet talking on "the most innovative duo of the century". Applause for this courageous release!

Heathen Harvest

Akron (AkrOn) is a result of collaboration of two people - Simon Sagmatopoulos and Yiannis Gedeon. To be honest, it is the first project in dark electro format (even if partly)coming from Greece I became familiar with. Origins of the 7 Deadly Sins is the first release of Akron issued on a US label Hypervoxx Recordings.
A distinguishing feature of this album - a combination of dark electro and neoclassical genres with a slight touch of martial. The structures of all songs seem to be pretty similar - each track begins with a short (in most tracks neoclassical) instrumental intro and then a mix of electro soundscapes and synth symphonic passages sometimes accompanied by pompous choirs leads the listener to the track's culmination.
When I just started to listen to this album and heard Introduction track, I thought to the phenomena called "symphonic" or "gothic" metal, in most cases characterized by "women'n'keyboards". The structure of melody lines and overall mood seemed to me pretty the same, just without guitars being present (to be more precise, organ passage in the end and some middle parts of Introduction made me think to CoF). As for the mood of this album in general - it varies much from track to track: hinting on mystery first (Introduction, I Failed You) and then proclaiming the coming of light (as the track N.D.E.,Killing Time). A Soundtrack, I'd call it: one can hear a wide use of instruments as numerous strings/horns/trumpets or consequence of chords that make music sound heroic and noble. Although if not electro/trance-ish background, this album might sound a bit too pathetic. Anyways, it is a bright release, that will certainly find its listener.
It would be unfair not to mention an inner side of the booklet. Apart from many thanks from band members to people who contributed this or that way, there're a few statements of the bandmembers and an interesting idea of presenting Deadly Sins the album is dedicated to in a form of a program (?). So as soon as you get an album, don't forget to investigate its rather small (concerning the number of pages), but worth your attention booklet.Contributed by: ZG

Enochian Apocalypse

In the past I had had constant communication with Akron (originally spelled with the greek letter Omega) and asked them why they were late to issue their album since I had heard already certain of their compositions that had impressed me. These compositions were neither properly elaborated nor completed, however they assured me that their record was worth the waiting…. They were absolutely right! The 'Origins Of The Seven Deadly Sins' is the first complete works of Akron and since the first hearing you realize that it is a special disk with particularly inspired compositions. The disk has something special: it succeeds in having its own specific sound, which however can be loved by fans of different kinds of music. Orchestral melodies and military beats create feelings of owe, joy, emotion and aggressiveness. Different but wedded compositions, elevate you at a different level of musical hearing. The introduction predisposes you to what is to follow as the amazing action-action =2x reaction introduces you to the spirit of the disk with the alternating wonderful strong melodies. The strong bass in combination with the beat and melodies make you believe that you have never heard something similar. The Chronicles is one of the strongest pieces of the disk while the hermit that follows, that is one of my favorites, possesses an amazing air and melody that are really unforgettable. The 'I failed you' and 'n.d.e.' are wonderful compositions with more synth pop sounds. And since –as I mentioned before- the origins of the seven deadly sins is an amalgam of orchestral, industrial, electro, and synth pop sounds, the resurrection with its introduction (naevus), the very fast rhythms, the strong melodies and Alkisti's vocals, comes to affirm me! And now we come to the killing time, a piece with amazing melody-air, with strong beat that really takes us off the ground. In my opinion it is the third best piece after the action and hermit, although in order to be frank the album is to be heard entire as an accomplished project. It is difficult to distinguish any piece as better than the others, as Akron have done a very good job also with the pairing of the pieces. The disk ends with an utro appropriate with the album's style that promises us that they will return. Finally it is undoubtedly one of the best albums of the year, an acoustically accomplished orchestral-industrial album, with full, strong melodies, enriched with various acoustical sounds and a very good sounf production from the studios of Hypervoxx.  Spyros Z   

Gothtronic

Neo-classical bombastic tunes and opera vocals rise in the introduction to the first real track on this Origins of the 7 Deadly Sins cd by the Greek duo Simon Sagmatopoulos and Yiannis Gedeon, also known as Akron. Akron actually should be spelled with the Greek O from Omega. This so you know, as it mainly is the music we are concerned with here. The cd is released by a small US label named Hypervoxx Recordings. The music consists of uptempo electro with neo-classical sounds, such as we know of Flesh Field. The neo-classical influences also somewhat remind of In The Nursery. But, with Akron it all meanders quite relaxed in almost new age-like ways, with pretty sterile synthesizer sounds and nowhere the tension gets as good as with Flesh Field or In The Nursery. You will hear a dance beat, synths, opera samples, strings and horns, but beside that there isn't that much variation in the compositions. Regarding atmosphere this goes more towards Jean-Michel Jarre or Alan Parsons, only less good, and much more modern with the straight-forward electro beat. However there are some nice moments worth mentioning. Best tracks, beside the intro and the epilogue, are 'Hermit' and 'Resurrection, in which the beautiful vocals of Alkisti Trikouraki can be heard. This recording could use some more intense sense for drama and bombast, as it really works excellently in the intro and the epilogue.TekNoir

Smother

Greek industrial electronica that splits time between melody and harshness. Armed with gripping gothic EBM, Akron fuses tepid nuances with terrific post-dance dank gloom. An intriguing release that boasts four-to-the-floor rhythms and manic harmonies, Akron finds the heart of original sin. Throbbing beats this ridiculously infectious should be sugarcoated with other tidbits that are delicious. (Review by J-Sin)

Side-Line

I first discovered this Greek duo on a sampler of the label where they've been signed. Their debut-album is a particular electronic experience for its style. The songs are quite danceable, but the instrumental form and some symphonic arrangements reveal a kind of soundtrack approach. It's not bad at all, but after a while you seriously start to miss some vocals and/or spoken samplings. The "Resurrection"-track sounds like a relief for the add of a few female vocal parts. Composing instrumental songs is probably a deliberate and personal choice of the band, but reconsidering this aspect by the add of a singer would seriously improve their work! (Review by DP)

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