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Sorcery: Arrival at six

13/03/13 || Ironpants

Sometimes they come back…

It’s like an ever flowing stream of bands praising the Swedish old school death metal nowadays, reviving and appearing as the living dead when they were supposed to rot. I’m drowned in new releases that revels in flesh of this sickening art and I am torn apart with my thoughts about this? But life goes on and you can join this death evocation or don’t, it’s your bitter loss. In case you don’t, I wish you hell and hope that you are soon to be dead.

Now you can either take some time to think about how many old school classics I crammed into the intro text, or you can override the overture and stray along on the left hand path for some more carnal leftovers.

Sorcery… yes, that old ensemble of death from the late 80’s and beginning of the 90’s. I still have one of their demo tapes lying around somewhere in a storage box in my mausoleum (guarded by two zombies and a serpent). They released one album in 1991 that gathered some followers, although I admit that it never really grabbed me by the balls, and it was a more than decent contribution to the death scene. Then nothing more… until now.

They went on a very long coffee break for about 20 years and now they are back again to spank our hairy bottoms. Well it’s only two of the members from the last roster, but still, they are back in business, and the album is mixed by Thomas Skogsberg in Sunlight Studios to get the right sound. And with that fact, you know what kind of sound spectrum this bad ass is coming from, but more modern in its presentation (of course, it’s fucking 2013 not 1991), and you hear what this is all about from the get-go. Sorcery use indeed the old sound, but when I listen through the album it strikes me how they depend on some catchier choruses and slightly different approach. I’m not saying it’s “softer”, they sure follow that old recipe, but it is more like… groovier. Many of the songs have a clearly thought of chorus line, and I dig that kind of song building in death metal, and you get quite a lot of those kind of memorable riffs that sets themselves in the back of your head and follow you to work and pops up when you least expect it. And it is always a good sign for a record when it is on airplay on your “inside radio” now and then.

The album starts of guns blazing with “We who walk among the dead”, which sends a message to all listeners that there are no lame and stiff old guys here. A real smoker that sets the tone for the evening. And the whole album contains a vital blend of fresh songs done the old way, with not that many let downs. Of course you get some of the “…wait, that sounds just like… damn, I cant remember” moments, but hey! I’m guessing that they are not trying to fool anyone, not even themselves, what this is all about? I could name drop some more songs, but it’s hard to do so, ‘cause all of ‘em makes you feel at home and gives you that comfortable feeling of never really wanting to skip a song cause it’s boring.

Regarding musical performance it’s also quite what to expect, and by that I don’t mean anything negative at all. It’s done exactly how it should be done. Buzzing guitars with that famous sound, the bass is there and actually brought to attention, drums is performed by standard Swedeath protocol, and the vocals is in the lower belly with perfect harshness and perfectly audible lyrics.

This is sheer, good, solid old school Swedish death metal, best served straight up with a large dose of nostalgia on the side. If you are dedicated to your roots, or maybe even a snotty curious newcomer, you will get a lot of value of this album. When you feel the need to listen to Swedish old school death metal, you might as well listen to someone who knows how it’s done, and also actually played a small part in developing the sound in the beginning of the 90’s. Solid is the word of the day.

If these guys have plans for releasing another album sooner than 20 years from now though, they need to come up with something more eye-opening, or they will loose my attention, now we all know that they still got it… but can they keep it?

7,5

Information
Released: 2013
Label: Xtreem Music
Website: www.sorcery.se
Band
Ola Malmström: vocals
Paul Johansson: guitars
Mikael Carlsson: bass
John Falk: drums

Tracklist
01. We who walk among the dead
02. Created from darkness and rage
03. Master of the chains
04. United satanic alliance
05. Arrival at six
06. Warbringer
07. Maculated life
08. Beyond the wall
09. Reborn through hate

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