...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI.



..::OPIS::..

Fifth album for Sarcasm!

After a series of demos in the early ’90s, the band returns to life in 2015 and confirms its Swedish heritage. In 2024, it’s with Mourninghoul that Heval Bozarslan (vocals, Deathswarm, Third Storm, Gold Spire), Anders Eriksson (guitar, Deathswarm), Peter Laitinen (guitar, Imperial Domain), Jonas Söder (bass, ex-Goatworship) and Jesper Ojala (drums, Third Storm, ex-Morbid Illusion) strike again.

The album kicks off at full speed with As Northern Gates Open, where sharp riffs and dark growls are anchored in furious Black Metal, with sharp but sometimes majestic melodies when slower. The band immediately continues with Lifelike Sleep, where tortured vocals meet an overpowering rhythm section, slowing down to become oppressive thanks to impressive keyboards that perfectly reproduce the desired languor before giving us a moment’s respite on the mysterious introduction to Withered Memories of Souls We Mourn, which returns to its abrasive Old School roots. The musicians make sure to make a lot of skulls nod with this war machine that relentlessly tramples us, playing with different paces to lead us to Dying Embers of Solitude and its bewitching leads that will also eventually give way to ferocity. The track keeps its soaring melancholic touch even at a high tempo, then it’s into heaviness that the band attacks A Lucid Dream in the Paradigm Stream, again relying on intriguing harmonics to bring its solid riffs to life. The soothing break tinges the rhythm, even welcoming a few female backing vocals before accelerating back to its devastating roots with Awareness in the Dark, which gives the guitars a prominent place in the charge, then it’s with No Solace From Above, the longest composition, that the band show us just how powerful their blend is. It begins with a nostalgic touch and sampled vocals, weaving its slow melodies before placing the sultry vocals, but the sound is again broken by this distant voice, before being trampled by a slightly more martial acceleration that still retains the apathetic atmosphere. Back to unbridled brutality for Absence of Reality, which delivers the album’s final slap in the face, pairing vivid solid riffs with a more harmonious but equally saturated edge to accompany the foggy vociferations.

Although surprised by a new release so close, I was delighted to hear Sarcasm screaming again. Their heart-rending Swedish roots are perfectly exploited on Mourninghoul, a putrid-smelling new album that has nothing to envy the monuments of the style.

Acta Infernalis


Uppsala’s Sarcasm has been around for almost 35 years and have released many demos, splits and EPs but did not release a full length album until 2016; talk about perseverance. I have to admit that they flew past my radar until their new album, Mourninghoul, hit my inbox. I know the word unique gets thrown around a lot but this band truly is unique in a lot of ways. Obviously when someone thinks of melodic death/black, their first thoughts go to Dissection but Sarcasm takes a different approach that is all their own. This is more Swede-death minus the buzz saw guitars and with a black metal approach. Intrigued yet? I sure was after my first go with this album. Again, this is my first exposure to this band so I have nothing to base my opinion on but the strength of this album. Let’s dive in, shall we?

“As Northern Gates Open” start out with an early Gothenburg melodic death metal influenced opening and is a really good album opener. Full of speed and energy they move seamlessly from melodic death metal influences to melodic black metal influences without you really noticing. Instead you’re just taken in by the atmosphere and the journey this music takes you on. I think it’s the strength of the riffs and the execution of the ideas that make this so good. Before you know it, the opener ends abruptly and we are treated to the follow up, “Lifelike Sheep.” Here is that example of Swede-death with atmosphere I mentioned earlier. The little leads thrown in with those monstrous riffs add more layers to this face melter. The song rolls to and end in an almost death doom fashion. Rounding out the opening trio is “Withered Memories of Souls We Mourn.” This track is probably the most death metal track on the album but there is still plenty of atmosphere. They throw some keys in and a really melodic solo that contributes to the melody.

Each time I listen to this album I get more of a better picture of what they were trying to get across. Beneath the mixture of influences and the overall atmosphere created by the execution here, this album displays some beastly riffs. “Awareness in the Dark” is the perfect example of how they use those riffs to drive the track. It is easy to get caught up in the atmosphere because there is plenty of it, but those riffs. Then you have the close to nine minute epic, “No Solace From Above.” This is death/doom in a lot of places but its the emotion you get from the vocals as well as the atmosphere that makes this track stand out from all the rest on the album. The album closes on an incredible note. No huge epic to take this album out. Instead they decide we need one more serious neck breaker to remember them by. “Absence of Reality” is just that track. Another song with a lot of layers, one thing that remains in your face are those riffs. From ripping thrash riffs to death metal riffs to those melodic black metal tremolos, this track is the perfect closer because it does really sum up this album in a song.

Better late than never I always say. I may have slept on Sarcasm but Mourninghoul has awakened me from that lumber. This is truly a unique band that does not fit in any box. Instead they let their music speak for itself and it spoke loud and clear to me. This is essential. You’re welcome!

The Elitist Metalhead


Sarcasm delivers a furious and energetic trip to the early days! Multifaceted entertainment for sophisticated Death Metal freaks!



..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. As Northern Gates Open 03:57
2. Lifelike Sleep 04:52
3. Withered Memories Of Souls We Mourn 04:53
4. Dying Embers Of Solitude 05:43
5. A Lucid Dream In The Paradigm Stream 04:57
6. Awareness In The Dark 04:08
7. No Solace From Above 08:48
8. Absence Of Reality 05:11



..::OBSADA::..

Heval Bozarslan - Vocals
Peter Laitinen - Guitars
Anders Eriksson - Guitars
Jonas Söder - Bass
Jesper Ojala - Drums




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lJg_0UfbmY



SEED 14:30-23:00.
POLECAM!!!