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Band: Sarcophagus
Album title: Beyond This World’s Illusion
Release date: 04 April 2017
Label: Satanath Records (Russia), Death Portal Studio (USA), Fila Sophiae (Sweden), Sphera Noctis Records (Brazil)
Tracklist:
01. Reign Of Chaos
02. Ain Sof
03. Dymadiel
04. The Profanity Rites
05. Sapremia Of Earthly Creatures
06. Triumphant Divine Terror
07. Armoured Death
08. Flaming Key To Divine Wisdom
09. Apocalyptic Beast
I'm very pleased until now with almost all the devilish beauty of black metal albums that have passed through my hands since I started reviewing for Terra Relicta. And so I was also when I put my eyes on this guys from Ankara, Turkey. The Sarcophagus is a very well known band worldwide, in the scene since 1996, in other words they came from the second wave of black metallers. They released the first work in 1997, a demo called Pagan Storm. Subsequently they released two EP’s, one in 2003, the very acclaimed Infernal Hordes Of The Ancient Times and Hate Cult in 2009. Before that Niklas Kvarforth from Shining and Ozan Yıldırım from Raven Woods joined the band and The Sarcophagus signed with legendary label Osmose Productions. Their first full-length album called Towards The Eternal Chaos was released in 2009. This album was kind of an “angular stone”, with 10 tracks and 50 minutes of playing time of such an execution that made them reach the top of Turkish black metal and why not say in almost all world scene.
A couple of years later, Niklas decided to quit from all his other side projects to focus on Shining. With this decision, Morkbeast from Russian black metal band Todestriebe joined the band as the new vocalist. The insane line-up is now featuring Mørkbeast (vocals), Burak (guitars/synth), Ozan (bass) and Oktay (drums). Basically their vision is to explore the occult path. The main theme or better, more often touched ground is about the chaos. According to Burak Sümer the Chaos refered in the lyrics is about an anti-cosmic event. Similarities in the style and direction of the songs refer us to names like Setherial, Dark Funeral, Dissection and clearly follow the path of the Swedish black metallers.
The nine tracks on this album are mainly made up of loads of rough edge blast beats and double kick drums, guitars are dripping hate and are pretty much distorted, fast and furious with occasional gloomy synths that add a lot of atmosphere, sometimes deep in the background. The instrumentation is possessed by a powerful sound, even though remaining 95% raw black metal and aggressively insane, the tracks also bring a reasonable modern and atmospheric influence. The vocals have a slight death metal tone but are from hell, and that's what’s important to me.
According to the tracks progress we also find light and distinct acoustic guitars, but those are not taken into the spotlights, instead they use them in a healthy dose that doesn’t compromise the main goal of The Sarcophagus, that is to keep themselves in the tradicional style. I must also comment on the art of the album, which was under the responsibility of Paolo Girardi. He brought to life the representation of a world beyond the physical barriers, a subtle realm replete with sick creatures created by a mythical and sick animal.
Whitout doubt my favorite tracks are in the top of my list, “Reigh Of Chaos”, “The Profanity Rites”, “Armoured Death” and “Apocalyptic Beast”. The Sarcophagus are a great occult black metal band and if you, as me, are addicted to the occult and raw black metal, you should check it out and support this great pioneers of Turkish black metal scene.
Review written by: Felin Frost
Rating: 8,5/10
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