Sadistik Forest - Official Website
Morbid Majesties |
Finland
 |
|---|
Type: Full-Length
Release Date: March 25th, 2018
Genre: Death
1.
In The Mazed Pits Of The Underworld
2.
Dying Work Of Art
3.
The Thrashed Fate
4.
Relentless Torment
5.
The Attempt
6.
Hopeless, Merciless
7.
Äpärä
8.
Withered
1.
Mandragore
2.
Barbarian
3.
Nihil
4.
Waters Black
1.
Morbidly Majestic
2.
Decades Of Torment Then Death
3.
The Hour Of Dread
5.
Zero Progress
6.
Monsters Of Death
7.
The Maelstrom Opens
8.
Bones Of A Giant
Review by Alex on May 3, 2021.
Sadistik Forest's 2018 album Morbid Majesties was good; nothing groundbreaking, just death metal that resembled what was coming out during the mid to late 90s. However, the production on that album was sort of clean, kind of like the sound quality a modern death metal album would have. I might be wrong about the modern death metal reference but I do recall the sound being quite clear. However; with this follow-up EP titled Obscure Old Remains, we get to see a side of Sadistik Forest that may be reaching out for a primal and gritty sound. Not just that, it also seems as if the band, though being of Finish descent, has adopted an admiration for the Danish death metal scene as some pages seem to be ripped out of the Undergang sewer manual.
The building blocks of death metal are still present within Sadistik Forest's structure but there do seem to be a slowly invading factor; a somewhat new face being added to their sound on this EP and that’s the d-beat that I don’t quite remember being used on the past release (I might be wrong).
With the production taking on an unpolished sound, Sadistik Forest's music on Obscure Old Remains does seem appropriate as far as the album title goes. And as we are on the album title I also get the feeling that the songs featured on this EP may not be new; rather, old recordings that never made it to physical media. Just a thought.
As for the music on Obscure Old Remains, I find it somewhat in contrast to what they had put out in 2018 both in terms of aforementioned production value and structure. While their past album conveyed a modern sound to the listener, this EP seems more rooted in the underground in which you’d encounter this new upheaval of OSDM bands. That’s a good thing the way I perceive it and hope Sadistik Forest continues down this path to audial primitivism.
As for the music, I also prefer what I hear on Obscure Old Remains in comparison to Morbid Majesties. The record sounds alive, more engaging, and sincere. Very organic and to the bone as should be the case with death metal.
And if I had to pick a favorite I'd have to go with 'Waters Black' as a result of its broad and flexible rhythms. Other songs such as 'Barbarian' and 'Mandragore' pull off thrashing stomps combined with uninterrupted pace shifting, and as I mentioned, the addition of the d-beat stomp that amps up the EP's diversity. If Sadistik Forest applies this formula to future releases we could be hearing their names mentioned alongside the more prominent within the underground.
Rating: 8.4 out of 10
1.12kReview by Alex on May 3, 2021.
Sadistik Forest's 2018 album Morbid Majesties was good; nothing groundbreaking, just death metal that resembled what was coming out during the mid to late 90s. However, the production on that album was sort of clean, kind of like the sound quality a modern death metal album would have. I might be wrong about the modern death metal reference but I do recall the sound being quite clear. However; with this follow-up EP titled Obscure Old Remains, we get to see a side of Sadistik Forest that may be reaching out for a primal and gritty sound. Not just that, it also seems as if the band, though being of Finish descent, has adopted an admiration for the Danish death metal scene as some pages seem to be ripped out of the Undergang sewer manual.
The building blocks of death metal are still present within Sadistik Forest's structure but there do seem to be a slowly invading factor; a somewhat new face being added to their sound on this EP and that’s the d-beat that I don’t quite remember being used on the past release (I might be wrong).
With the production taking on an unpolished sound, Sadistik Forest's music on Obscure Old Remains does seem appropriate as far as the album title goes. And as we are on the album title I also get the feeling that the songs featured on this EP may not be new; rather, old recordings that never made it to physical media. Just a thought.
As for the music on Obscure Old Remains, I find it somewhat in contrast to what they had put out in 2018 both in terms of aforementioned production value and structure. While their past album conveyed a modern sound to the listener, this EP seems more rooted in the underground in which you’d encounter this new upheaval of OSDM bands. That’s a good thing the way I perceive it and hope Sadistik Forest continues down this path to audial primitivism.
As for the music, I also prefer what I hear on Obscure Old Remains in comparison to Morbid Majesties. The record sounds alive, more engaging, and sincere. Very organic and to the bone as should be the case with death metal.
And if I had to pick a favorite I'd have to go with 'Waters Black' as a result of its broad and flexible rhythms. Other songs such as 'Barbarian' and 'Mandragore' pull off thrashing stomps combined with uninterrupted pace shifting, and as I mentioned, the addition of the d-beat stomp that amps up the EP's diversity. If Sadistik Forest applies this formula to future releases we could be hearing their names mentioned alongside the more prominent within the underground.
Rating: 8.4 out of 10
1.12kReview by Alex on June 6, 2018.
I find it criminal that Sadistik Forest have not been mentioned amongst more notable bands within the underground death metal scene. Prior to encountering this monstrous mount of malevolence in the body of Morbid Majesties I hadn't any knowledge of their existence. Upon investigation, I had discovered that Sadistik Forest existed since 2010. Since then they have released 2 full-length albums and 1 split EP featuring a death metal band known as Septory (I will be turning in their direction soon). Now in 2018 we have Morbid Majesties passing down its judgment onto the scene via wicked combinations of gruesome death growls, twisted shrieks (that sound like a cross between Randy Blythe of Lamb of God and Heljarmadr of Grá) and versatile drumming and guitars. The atmosphere Sadistik Forest paints on Morbid Majesties is strange, sometimes it feels like melodic blackened death metal, other times it radiates an apocalyptic thrash metal aurora whilst still keeping intact the death metal identity of the band. Finland is notorious for producing quality metal bands and Sadistik Forest is no exception to this.
Morbid Majesties opens with its self titled track and puts on a display of cavernous wretchedness unlike anything I've heard thus far in 2018 in terms of a new release. The growls sound deep and gurgling; it is reinforced by rugged screams and wrecking drumming and guitars. The drumming and guitars really battle for command on this 3:51 opener. Thrash metal guitar groves are mashed against the wall by brisk drumming that changes its arrangements to match the sly guitar riffing. The second track does the same; it has a war march feeling that suits the tempo of the album as a collective. Then there are slower songs such as “The Hour of Dread” which has a sedating speed, it is centered around groovy drumming and chugging guitars. There is a doomy aspect that is awakened when the guttural growls step forth. The guitar solo on it is suiting for the tempo; it has a high pitch and a great melody that matches the creeping flow of the composition. The best track on the album is a toss-up between “Zero Progress” and “Bones of A Giant”. There is a huge polarity in song structure, feeling, rhythm and time. I find it funny that the longest and shortest pieces on Morbid Majesties compete with each other. Primarily, one offers more diversity and the other offers more aggression and better songwriting. They bring out the best of the band in each aspect of their music thus advertising their skill set.
Morbid Majesties pulses with energetic and vibrant music. It is a must own for every death metal supporter/enthusiast. The incorporation of each aspect is well timed; nothing appears to be overwhelming on this sick installation. The artwork is beautifully grotesque; it struck me at first glance. I can imagine how warped a colored vinyl edition would look, especially if it matches the cover image. A green vinyl with black haze and red splatter would be terrific; take my money! This lawless legion of Sadistik Forest and Transcending Obscurity will shake and shatter the death metal underground.
Rating: 8.1 out of 10
1.12k