Violence reigns for Sarcator.
Although they already released an album last year, the Swedish band led by Mateo Tervonen (vocals/guitar, ex live for The Crown), Jesper Rosén (drums), and Leo Buchalle (guitar, ex-Venthiax) has recruited Linus Edmarker (bass, Retribution, Zadism, ex-Maniak), signs with Reigning Phoenix Music, and announces the release of The Ones We Follow, their fourth album.
The Ones We Follow opens the album with an immediately aggressive sound, highlighting the band’s diverse influences ranging from Thrash to Heavy Metal, and even a touch of country in the lead guitar parts, but the drums remain focused on pure energy, as do the vocals. However, the track quickly transitions into The Underground Streets, the next song with a much calmer introduction that continues this dynamic balance between darkness and restraint. The rhythm section is particularly solid, allowing the vocalist and guitarists to let loose a bit; then, with You Gotta Possess Me, the musicians take us on a new, frenzied ride where fury and energy feed off each other naturally. The Western vibe evoked by the album cover is, of course, still very much present, just as on the dreamy In Search of Oblivion, which captivates us quite easily before delivering a catchy mid-tempo track where rage and intricate touches collide, then melancholy sets in on Rotting Chapels, the next track, which also starts off fairly gently only to build in intensity later on, remaining one of the album’s most intense tracks. Its length, however, allows for a long break in the middle before picking up again with Bleeding Ages and its intro, which highlights the bass before it’s joined by the rest of the band, offering some rather upbeat Rock tones here, while leaving Mateo the privilege of delivering the aggression through his growls. The track eventually picks up the pace a bit past the halfway point, veering almost toward Black/Thrash, but it slows down before giving way to Volatile Insight, which kicks off with renewed vigor and offers more piercing sounds that blend with the positive energy of a guitar that’s, once again, quite soft and ethereal – in contrast to Ain’t Fit to Live, which allows it a certain freedom but is far darker. The track continues to blend its various influences before giving way to Wasteland Strider, which begins with clean vocals and even treats us to a few intoxicating acoustic moments before building to a fever pitch and leading into the long final composition, Wanderlust, where the musicians take the time to build up their distortion while playing with contrasting tones, remaining primarily on the energetic and choppy side but also incorporating frenetic melodies, particularly during the final surge.
While the Thrash foundation is still very much present in Sarcator’s sound, the band has undeniably evolved toward a furious style of Heavy Metal with roots firmly planted in the American Wild West! The sound has changed as a result, but remains enjoyable for the most open-minded listeners.
70/100
