SARGEIST — The Dark Embrace (review)

SARGEIST — The Dark Embrace album cover EP · 2008 · Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Vehemency
Sargeist, including members of Horna and Behexen (and thus could almost be named a supergroup of sorts), released two very successful full-lengths last decade. The albums, Satanic Black Devotion and Disciple of the Heinous Path, were acclaimed by many, so it is weird how low profile this seven inch EP has kept.

The Dark Embrace has one track per side, as usual with seven inches. The first side includes the title track also known as "Dark Embrace of Ruins". The song is lead by a recurring melancholic guitar melody, accompanied by Shatraug’s lyrics that I could interpret as a glance into his past and the present, dealing with his personal beliefs. The riffs are nothing unique but it doesn’t matter: personally, when I’m listening to this kind of music I might know what to expect and I can still love every second of it.

The B side track "The Crown of Burning Stars" begins with an almost two minute guitar interlude. The actual song starts quite abruptly after the intro, and once again the band provides melancholic black metal in the classic way of Sargeist. Lyrics are again in big role, if you ask me. You don’t hear (nor read) such passion in every black metal release out there.

Both songs are pretty much mid-tempo and the production has a touch of lo-fi to intensify the emotional aspect. So no sterile studio sounds to expect here. In case later Horna and other Finnish black metal acts in the same melancholic vein are for your taste, there’s no reason to avoid this. The Dark Embrace is a strong addition to Sargeist’s discography, and I still can’t understand why this certain EP is so unknown. Anyhow, let’s hope we get a new full-length album in the future, because The Dark Embrace proves that Sargeist has still power left.
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