A new release from Saasta.
Nearly three years have passed since their last EP, but Leevi Kärsämä (vocals, Soulwound), Topias Jokipii (guitar, Chestcrush, Frigore, Helveteskval), Janne Hietanen (bass, Of Spite, Solamnia), and Jimi Lahtinen (drums) are back with their second album, Cesspool, still backed by Inverse Records.
The band kicks things off with The Leeches, an energetic yet fairly heavy opener infused with Black/Death and Doom elements, alternating between aggression and heaviness, as well as interesting growls that follow the rhythm section’s pace. It’s worth noting that the track is very rhythmic, but also that it transitions smoothly into The Caricature, the next track, where we find the same oppressive approach but paired with haunting touches, much like on The Coffin, which sounds almost joyful in its melancholy and violence. The track is a bit slower, but retains its natural groove punctuated by more intense outbursts before getting bogged down on The Imposter, which naturally follows in its footsteps while weaving unhealthy, haunting tones, but one will still notice the contrast between the jerky rhythm and the soaring harmonics, leading seamlessly into the bouncy The Plague, the album’s longest track. Once again, the band continues to cultivate this almost visceral duality between its elements, shifting from a savage growl to a haunting yet explosive slowness, before enveloping us in a sense of unease for The March, the next track, which takes its time building a progressive intro to better ensnare us in its grip. The screams finally return to haunt this dark passage before shifting back to more accessible tones with The Envy, on which I could swear I hear hints of Black’n’Roll beneath the vocals and abrasive distortion, as well as more occult undertones in the harmonics. A new assault with The Maelstrom and its more dissonant parts slipped between two waves of violence, notably a groovy one to boot, then we pick up the pace with The Woe, which sounds a bit too cheerful to my ears for its title, but which is sure to set things right with a palpable melancholy in its languor. The track is fairly short, as is The Ironclad, which follows and reveals a wild side of the band’s music while retaining moments of respite before the explosive yet brief The Entrencher, which occasionally borrows from grindcore for its bursts of violence, just like The Retribution, which leans more toward erupting sludge with its unpredictable nature, shifting from one atmosphere to another without warning in under three minutes, and which closes out the album.
Saasta hasn’t changed its style, still oscillating between an explosive blend of Black, Death, and Doom Metal with bellicose influences on Cesspool, a new album whose violence is matched only by its gritty and unpredictable sound.
80/100