Self-Proclaimed Existence

Death metal is usually something I find hard to generalize about. One thing I have realized however, is I hate "digital" sounding death metal. You know, that kind of metal where it sounds as though it's been sped up in the studio - the songs all sound exactly the same (quirky drum beats, guitar wank that goes nowhere etc) and there's no feeling behind any of the songs. Don't get me wrong, there are artists that pull of technicality yet still remain interesting (Necrophagist, Windham Hell etc) but those bands are rare. Anyway - this band, Sammath Naur - is thankfully NOT one of those bands. Sure, they play crazy fast death metal passages - but there is indeed something cohesive and epic about this album.

I've noticed lately (and I've mentioned this in other reviews) that bands are trying to come across as technically proficient/avant garde these days - often at the expense of good song writing. While this album is nothing catchy like Dying Fetus or Cannibal Corpse, it's cohesive enough to remain interesting.

The vocals range from the gutteral to the raspy black metal type - with enough variance to not be deemed repetitive. What really stands out though, is the guitar leads - although technical, they're memorable, so it doesn't just get lost in the never ending see of blast beats (which seems to happen with a lot of modern death metal). I would say this is closer to death metal than black metal - but I guess the keyboards and vocal lines do lend a blackened sound overall.

If I had to compare it to something, I would say a mixture between Dies Irae's "Sculpture of Stones" and the more melodic Limbonic Art songs. A bit of a strange combination I guess, but it does work. Although not particularly groundbreaking, it's a fun, incredibly epic, interesting, and well written album - which would be enjoyed by most metalheads I'm sure.

Standout tracks : Landscape of liquid colours, A hand across the galaxy, Organic ego system