Here at Defenders of the Faith, we pride ourselves on covering bands old and new from all sides of the heavy metal spectrum. That said, it doesn’t get much “newer” than today’s featured band, Sarcator (Yes, half Sarcófago, half Kreator). While the band’s roots go back to 2014 under the name Metal Militia, it should be noted that the average age of this band collectively is 20. You read that correctly. That means these dudes are younger than me, and I can’t tell you how many 70s and 80s titans I’ve taken by surprise, a glorified “kid” greeting them for an interview via Zoom.
Sarcator are “defenders of the faith” in the truest sense of the term: An energetic band of young bucks keeping the old school sound and spirit alive. Although it should be noted that said “sound” is a bit harder to pin down than you’d think. With a name that fuses two of the most beloved names in 80s extreme metal, one would expect Sarcator to specialize in no hold barred blackened thrash. After all, that’s exactly how their latest album, Alkahest, opens. The punishing “Ascend” wastes no time battering and brutalizing the listener to a pulp, with its unrelenting riffs and drumming. And then things get interesting.
“Perdition’s Hand” sees the band switching speeds with ripping black ‘n’ roll, chock full of rocking riffs and eerie melodies. This isn’t all to uncommon for black metal bands of recent years. I chalked this, as well as “Devil Sun” which appears later on the album, up to a musical detour before going back to the thrashing. Only Sarcator never does. Instead, they conjure a unique spin on early black metal that’s far more intriguing to the ear and the mind than your average early Bathory worship band. Mind you, this isn’t a knock towards said bands. Sometimes a lethal dose of evil speed is all you need, but I digress.
Sarcator are extremely proficient musicians and arrangers, so much so that I’d go so far to brand this a progressive metal release, albeit an extremely dark and blackened progressive metal release. The intricacies and nuances of cuts like “Grave Maggot Future” and “He Who Comes from the Dark” come off as an early 90s Scandinavian spin on Rust in Peace era Megadeth, while “The Long Lost” is a doomy black ‘n’ roll dirge in the tradition of Venom’s “Warhead”. The closing title track even sees the band bending the lines between Maiden inspired traditional metal and extreme metal, similar to Deceased or Witchery in their prime.
Alkahest is an album where I went in expecting one thing, got something completely different, and was still satisfied with the outcome. I guess as the old saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” And don’t judge Sarcator by their age. They may be kids, but they have the virtuosic chops of an outfit beyond their years. After all, Megadeth were in their early 20s when they released their own magnum opuses, redefining what thrash could be with one display of musical precision at a time.
7 out of 10
Label: Black Lion Records
Genre: Progressive Black Metal
For fans of: Megadeth, Venom, Iron Maiden