Sunken shines in 2025.
After signing with Eisenwald, the Danish band led by Martin Skyum Thomasen (vocals), Simon Skotte Krogh (guitar, live for Afsky), Jonas Faghtmann (bass, live for Afsky), Joachim Højer Larsen (drums, Glemsel) and Alexander Salling (guitar) unveils Lykke, their third album.
Din røst malede farver i luften opens the album with a crystalline sound that eventually becomes mysterious, reminiscent of the abyss before a first wave of saturation sweeps away our minds, joining a visceral scream. Although very raw, the instrumental remains soaring and haunted by roars that bring a striking humanity to the wave that eventually slows down to offer majestic tones to accompany the lament, breaking sharply only to start again with reassuring keyboards until Og det er lykke. The sound is reborn very slowly, offering a simple but gentle melody to hypnotize us before finally giving in to heaviness, at first quite calm, then suddenly exploding with that first roar that sets the tone, fueling the contrast with the beauty of the rhythm that grows bolder. There are noticeable DSBM influences in the vocals, making the progression chilling until the first break, which is still disturbed by plaintive moans that eventually summon once again this fabulous saturation that only subsides to guide us towards Glædesfærd, which is anything but a walk in the park. While the darkness is very quickly present, it intensifies all at once to offer a new dimension to the vocal parts, which become not abrasive eruptions but rather an additional layer of heart-wrenching melancholy before this moment of saving respite. The hazy riffs are guided by soothing leads before finally transforming into a restful dissonance that fades away, allowing us to catch our breath one last time before tackling Når livet går på hæld, where the atmosphere immediately becomes heavier. Even before translating the name of the song, we understand why we feel overwhelmed by this darkness, why the beats are more solemn, and above all why our whole body becomes numb under the haunting rhythm led by both ethereal guitars and soaring keyboards. We end up doubting: is everything we hear real? Then the rhythm ignites and blows us away without warning, bringing us back to reality and to the violence that will continue more gently, but with the same torn soul, until the final lullaby.
Sunken has always known how to capture the essence of darkness and make it even more visceral, more palpable. There are many visceral albums out there, but Lykke is undoubtedly one of the most striking and intoxicating I have ever heard.
95/100
