Although my musical tastes lie largely in the extreme/underground Black Metal scene, I am always willing to be lured out of those murky depths and into completely different, mirky depths. This time, the beast beckoning me to undoubtedly the furthest away I have ever been lured is the latest EP, When Skies Are Grey, from Greek duo Manos Six And The Muddy Devil.
Manos Six And The Muddy Devil – When Skies Are Grey
Release date: 6 June 2025
Words: Jools Green
Manos Six And The Muddy Devil consist of founder Manos Six, singer and banjo player, and Stamos Abatis, ‘The Muddy Devil’, who plays acoustic bass, delivering an offering that emerges from the shadowy paths of Americana to the heart of Black Metal.
Sound-wise, they blend Dark-Americana, Death-Country, and Neo-Folk with the raw atmosphere of Black Metal, creating something very different, from my perspective, at least.
The pair draw inspiration from the dark stories and mysticism of the American South, delving into themes such as Paleo-Christianity, the Devil, and Lucifer.
What makes this offering distinctive is the sound of the banjo, and we only have to cast a thought back to Taake’s Myr to be reminded how potentially Black Metal that instrument can be. Here, it involves an unusual dialogue with the acoustic bass, building a fascinating and engaging atmosphere.
This Manos Six And The Muddy Devil EP opens with Sound Of The Dead On and features Dimitris Kouzis on violin, with backing vocals by Antonis Stivaktakis, which add an eerie depth to the track. Opening on a gentle banjo melody, the layers and atmosphere begin to build, first with hunting violin.
As soon as the drum beats kick in, the mood becomes all the darker. The mixture of dark, catchy rhythms and clearly delivered unnerving lyrics make Sound Of The Dead one of those hugely impactful tracks that stick in your mind and haunt you long after it has finished and pop back into your thoughts when you least expect it to. It is a superb piece.
The next piece, When Skies Are Grey, is based on the traditional American song You Are My Sunshine and features electric guitar by George Emmanuel. Initially, banjo is delivered at a slow reflective pace, and vocals, when they arrive, are rugged but clear and hauntingly unnerving.
The electric guitar is subtle but gradually gains purchase, becoming darker and more eerily melancholic towards the close, set initially to the back of the sound but gradually edging forward, adding further unnerving layering. There is a decidedly dark and bleak atmosphere here in a superbly dark take on a classic song.
Once again featuring the talents of Dimitris Kouzis on violin, I’m Not Gonna Turn My Back On The Devil opens on a simple but stark banjo work. Then, out of the blue, the tempo picks up. The violin joins the mix, along with spoken word lyrics which, after the line “I’m not going to turn my back on the devil,” switch to unearthly gutturals.
These are backed by a thinly layered, eerily atmospheric Black Metal soundscape punctuated by violin squeals, making a superbly unique and utterly unpredictable track.
If you think that by the final piece, this EP cannot possibly surprise you, then think again. The Last Turn (Chain Pleasure), which features a “girl’s voice and suffering” by Didi Afroditi, does just that.
I was curious about the track because of its somewhat unusual, almost cinematic quality, particularly from the spoken word content which give a Western/horror feel.
Manos Six explained that he wrote it as a tribute to B movies, horror films and BDSM torture, all of which are a big part of his inspiration for the piece. Instead of taking samples from a movie and putting them on top of the theme music he played, he decided to record it all by himself.
What you hear is recorded by Manos Six and a girl in real-time. It is cleverly composed and delivered and alarmingly engaging, particularly when you know the back story.
When Skies Are Grey also features Jan Westermann on drums and percussion, Elena Malamou on six-string banjo and Gina Selini on keyboards and noise.
The recording, mix and mastering is by George Emmanuel of Lucifer’s Child, ex: Necromantia, at his legendary Pentagram Studios. Graphic design/layout by Nashemah Artworks.
When Skies Are Grey is available as a 4-Panel Digi CD Deluxe Edition via FYC Records. There are two different patch designs to choose from, Baphomet or Dead, and two Stickers limited to 300 copies via FYC Records and Distro at Bandcamp Distro – FYC Records & Distro or contact wrath_dodsferd@yahoo.gr.
The EP is also in digital format from FYC Records at Bandcamp and via the usual streaming services.
When Skies Are Grey gazes into the depths of American Southern terror. The dead applaud, the sky fills with clouds, the pastor hymns the devil, and a wrong turn leads to torture. So go fill your boots and your ears. You know you can’t resist it.
