### Sargeist: Let the devil in

#### 10/01/12 || Charl du Plessis

Prior to receiving this album I must confess that I have never heard of Sargeist. Other than the fact the line up consists of members from Behexen and Horna, that’s about it. With their fingers in so many pies they certainly appear to be very busy blokes.

There’s no fucking around with intros or effects and the music gets right into it from track one. A lot of prominent cheesy Satanic lyrics appears throughout the album, all moderately entertaining I must add. Confirming these guys probably have already moved over to the dark side already, so no need to beat around the burning bush about it. Despite the dark cheese it does suite the music and is expected from an album named “Let the Devil in” You might have to look for it under the gospel section in CD stores though. Hahahahahaha!!!

To be fair the album has a good production which is sadly accompanied by very monotone sounding vocals and somewhat uncreative drumming. Suppose this was always the intention since it originally started off as a side project since 1999. It does have many good moments on parts of the tracks but not good enough to make me cum twice. If you had to randomly skip between songs you wouldn’t necessarily know the difference of what is playing now and what was playing before. It’s old school Finnish black metal in its most basic and purest form. Covered with depression and suicidal tendencies, just the way the lord intended it. What you see is what you get.

Most of the songs sound very similar and one might get bored very quickly after giving it a spin or two. Personally it’s really not something I would want to listen to everyday and prefer the member’s more well known bands they are involved with. Nevertheless it is heavy in all forms black metal and is recommended accordingly. I have heard much better but certainly also a lot fucking worse. The music is raw and true to the genre with all the right grunts in all the right places. Straight forward and uncomplicated, dark and uncompromising.

There is a place for Sargeist in the obscure underground world of the black metal. But probably only appealing to the more die-hard black metal audiences. Not entirely a ghost wandering the halls of black metal side projects. Overall good for a track here and there, every now and again. That’s about it.

- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: Moribund Records
- Website: www.sargeist.com
- Band
- Hoath Torog: vocals
- Shatraug: guitars
- Horns: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Empire of Suffering
- 02. A Spell to Awaken the Temple
- 03. From the Black Coffin Lair
- 04. Burning Voice of Adoration
- 05. Nocturnal Revelation
- 06. Discovering the Enshrouded Eye
- 07. Let the Devil In
- 08. Sanguine Rituals
- 09. Twilight Breath of Satan
- 10. As Darkness Tears the World Apart