When we talk about Norwegian metal scene, some specific groups that conquered the northern latitudes with their identity immediately come to mind. One of them is the black/thrash metal band SARKE, which already made strong claims for cult status, gathering under its banner not one or two inspirational faces from the Norwegian scene, delivering an old-school and “crunchy” sound.
“Endo Feight” is the eighth full-length album of the musicians, and the title itself could be interpreted as “internal fight”. Listening to the lyrics, this is also the main theme of the album itself – the inner struggle between light and darkness, dealing with one’s own shadows and fears. With such a theme, one would think that the album would be totally cutting, there would be moments of despair, or Sarke would go wild in unexpected directions, but this is not exactly the case.
The title features more emphasis on Anders Hunstad’s keyboards, as its very atmosphere both thanks to their melody and the more specific guitar performances is moving more fluidly and ethereally than the previous records. These lighter segments are combined with heavier thrash and black metal moments, also some surprises are popping up (the sound of a horn, for example), resulting in an energetic opus in which you’ll hear everything traditional for Sarke – Nocturno Culto’s vocals are still as expressive and challenging you to the core, Sarke’s bass and drums spill over the entire album and in places hit like steel, and Steinar Gundersen’s riffs arrive as an anchor in the sea, but the music seems to be presented in a lighter than the usual way, as if with the intention of allowing emphasis on the harsh messages of the lyrics, which touch on a number of shadowy aspects of the human soul, allowing a bit of creeping thriller atmosphere at some points.
Some of the tracks are more atmospheric, while still containing a massive dose of Culto’s calls and Sarke’s slashing haunting bass (“Death Construction”, “Abyssal Echoes”), others arrive with a slower ethereal and subtle harsh instrumental (“Lost”, “I Destroyed The Cosmos”, “Macabre Embrace”) and others are more aggressive and carry more of SARKE’s traditional fast, rotten and raw atmosphere (“Old Town Sinner”, “In Total Allegiance “, “Phantom Recluse”).
In the space of around thirty-seven minutes, SARKE push the boundaries of what is expected of them and their inherent genre characteristics, ending the album with piano interludes resembling slow bell ringing and ambient noises of stormy rain and a throat, drowning in the water. From the most ethereal elements to some of the heaviest, in “Endo Feight” you will hear the charming melodies forged by the masterful hands of the experienced musicians, and also will probably be surprised in places where you can even find jazzy elements, giving fluidity and a hazier atmosphere to the record.
“Endo Feight” is an inspired album. The musicians handle their arsenal skillfully, managing to bring to the world another opus that captures the band’s authenticity, but also adds its own colors to their palette-rich discography.
Hear the single “Phantom Recluse”
below:
Band: SARKE
Album: “Endo Feight”
Release date: 21.06.2024
Label: Soulseller Records
Link: http://www.soulsellerrecords.com
Mother of THE VOID.
Underground music is the ultimate weapon against mediocrity.
