Review: Automaton – Labyrinth (2026)
Automaton - Labyrinth (9/10) Greek Blackened Doom Metal band Automaton has released their second full length album. Based on Minoan mythology, with the Minotaur as the main figure. Through the lense of the Minotaur, the band creates a very dark story. Read more!
Band: Automaton
Album: Labyrinth
Genre: Blackened Doom Metal
Country: Greece
Label: Sound Effect Records
Released: April 3, 2026
Introduction
Automaton is a band from Athens. Through the years, they have experimented a lot with doom, black, and stoner metal. They own an important place in the Greek underground scene and have also played abroad, with two appearances at Inferno Metal Festival. This already says a lot about the sound and the path of this band. Here, we look at their second full length and very recent release, Labyrinth.
Track Listing
- Rebirth
- Minotaur
- Ariadne
- Black Sails
- Your Bull Nature Clouds Your Human Self
- Battle in the Labyrinth
Labyrinth
This is Automaton’s darkest work so far. The album goes deep into the band’s Cretan roots and takes us into a mythological dead end, connected to a civilization destroyed by a volcano. The album is based on Minoan mythology, with Minotaur as the main figure. Through Minotaur, the band creates a very dark story. From the beginning, the album is full of heavy riffs. Track by track, we follow the life cycle of the beast. We move from anger to sorrow, and finally to the inner strength and grief that the main character hides. This is not an album made to sound catchy or easy. It is a journey through one of the darkest parts of Greek mythology, both in sound and in lyrics. From track to track, the album changes. It starts with a strong doom feeling, then slowly becomes heavier and ends up moving into black metal paths. The transitions are done very well, with excellent instrumental and post-metal parts. For me, the highlight of the album is Ariadne. The finest blend of sounds that fits perfectly inside the album.
Conclusion
This album clearly deserves a high rating. It is more than worth listening to, especially with attention to the lyrics. It has excellent compositions, and Automaton may be in their best creative period so far.
BMZ Rating: 9/10
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