By: Charlie Butler
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 10/06/2015
Label: Razzia Records
“Sagor” sounds more like the latest release from a stadium straddling colossus than the second album by a promising up-and-coming act. This is mainly due to the quality of the material here but credit should also be given to the production. Daniel Bergstrand and Niklas Berglöf, who have previously worked with the likes of Meshuggah and Ghost, have assisted Skraeckoedlan in crafting a huge-sounding record with a commercial sheen whilst maintaining the impact and integrity of their music.
‘Sagor’ CD//DD track listing:
1. Prolog (03:22)
2. Gigantos (07:26)
3. Epos (05:46)
4. Awen (01:07)
5. El Monstro (06:33)
6. Odjuret (06:39)
7. Flod (02:45)
8. Squidman (08:09)
9. Mothra (07:08)
10. Epilog (04:21
The Review:
A cursory glance at the tracklist of “Sagor” gives strong clues to the nature of the beast lurking within. Titles like “Mothra” and “Squidman”, tell you everything you need to know about Sweden
Instrumental opener “Prolog” kicks things off with a blistering volley of white hot riffage, demonstrating the band’s potent trademark blend of crunching complexity and full throttle fuzz rock. It is a heady and intoxicating brew that brings to a mind a hybrid of Mastodon and Truckfighters and makes for compelling listening. Skraeckoedlan also exhibit an uncanny knack for perfectly combining melody and heaviness in equal measure, leading to effective results when allied with the galactic scale of their songwriting ambition. Eight minute voyages into the unknown like “Gigantos” and the previously mentioned “Mothra” show what the band are capable of at the height of their powers.
“Sagor” sounds more like the latest release from a stadium straddling colossus than the second album by a promising up-and-coming act. This is mainly due to the quality of the material here but credit should also be given to the production. Daniel Bergstrand and Niklas Berglöf, who have previously worked with the likes of Meshuggah and Ghost, have assisted Skraeckoedlan in crafting a huge-sounding record with a commercial sheen whilst maintaining the impact and integrity of their music.
This album should see Skraeckoedlan winning a place in the heart of many a riff aficionado but also has the potential to catapult them into the big leagues. It’s also a record that needs to be owned on vinyl, if only to feast your eyes on the mind-expanding gatefold sleeve by Johan Leion.
‘Sagor’ is available here
FFO: Mustasch, Dozer, Truckfighters, Mastodon
