Vicky
If you are confused about the title, it is perfectly fine—I was too. A quick search for Pythia on Encyclopaedia Metallum revealed that Unhallowed is the band’s fifth album. However, it has decided to divide it into two (or perhaps more, it’s confusing!) parts. Before I share more about the album, I would like to clarify the actual definition of “unhallowed”: it means “unholy, not formally consecrated, wicked.”Now that you’ve been educated, let’s start!
Now, regarding the band’s music, here is where things get interesting. I have been a listener of Pythia for about two years, but I hadn’t felt the curiosity to check out its full discography until I listened to Unhallowed. Only then did I realize that this album is a testament to the band’s maturity. Having only one vocalist, you might think the songs could become monotonous, but that’s not the case with Pythia. What it may occasionally lack in vocal variety, it makes up for by transmitting emotion through every skilled guitar riff, every soaring high note from vocalist Sophie Dorman, and every majestic orchestration.
Even though I’ve never taken the “FFO” (“for fans of”) section seriously, Pythia has proved me wrong. When it claimed their music is for fans of Nightwish, Evergrey, and Epica, it underestimated how much those fans might adore Unhallowed.
The album is far more than your average Symphonic Metal LP—it’s an uncontrollable force, a fire rising from the London underground that you certainly shouldn’t miss. Among 2025’s releases, Unhallowed is likely one of the most creative, thanks to the way Sophie’s beautiful voice is fully utilized across all tracks. The lyrics convey profound emotion, the guitar solos are exquisite, and the overall sound is composed of rich, symphonic layers of musical craftsmanship.
From the beginning of Unhallowed, you can tell the band has gained a wealth of experience in its nearly two decades of activity, and they are not afraid to show it. On the contrary, this album competes with Nightwish’s Once, Epica’s Consign to Oblivion, Theatre of Tragedy’s Velvet Darkness They Fear, Within Temptation’s Mother Earth, Therion’s Vovin, Interitus Dei’s Unholy, and Haggard’s Eppur Si Muove for a place in the Hall of Fame of brilliant Symphonic Metal albums that you must listen to at least once in your lifetime.
Label: Independent
Release date: May 23, 2025
Website: https://pythia.bandcamp.com/
Country: UK
Score: 4.0/5.0
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