EP Review: Sathamel-Self Titled.

Showing that the UK may be the place to watch for blackened metal. Sathamel release their debut EP. We at Musical Chairs, have once again driven our resident beast from his cave, and asked him to pass his judgement upon this offering. Gary Lee takes a look at the EP from the Leeds based outfit. 

Don’t you just love finding gems in your own backyard? Sathamel are a blackened death metal band, from Leeds/Bradford, England who have released their first EP, which is also a self-titled release. I’ll be honest, having never heard this band before I was not sure what to expect, but being from the surrounding area, I was looking forward to hearing what they had in them. I am happy to say I was not disappointed.

The EP is an incredibly tight offering which is a credit to both the musicians and the producer, Samuel Turbitt. Focusing on the overall production for a moment, I like how all the elements of the song are given enough room in the mix, they have their individual spaces and compliment, rather than compete. This is something I feel a lot of black/blackened metal release struggle with. The result for Sathamel is that the EP becomes a powerful and dramatic force, it is a release that even at low volume conveys presence and fills the room, this is a welcome change from the muddy, fuzzed up mess some blackened metal can be. Sticking with the production, I feel like I should mention Rise, the obligatory blackened metal intro track that was arranged by Samuel. The track does exactly what it needs to. The big chord hit that opens wakes the listener up, and sucks them right into the ensuing music as long atmospheric chords draw you in further before it fades out and is answered by Wingless.

Wingless answers the call set by Rise with a growl by vocalist Kruk that has a commanding presence and thus begins Sathamel’s domination of the next 24 minutes. Guitarists Baal and KVN offer scaling riffs that perhaps fittingly evoke images of spiralling like a now wingless being falling from the sky. Deimos, on bass, and Valdr on drums lock together well, providing a groove that paces the song and pushes the listener through it in suitably head knocking fashion. I have said a few times already, but I cannot get over how tight these guys are, especially for a debut release.

Scorch Blind Faith kicks off with a very doomy riff with a nice “call and answer” interplay between the two guitars and drums before a harmonic wailing shifts the song into gear. The doom motif is continued throughout and played around, layered with guttural vocals and blast beats. This is a beast of a track that shows off what Sathamel can do, offering some complex song writing, changes of pace and emotion, meandering, sorrowful harmonics and finishing on the excellent dirge like hook of Kruk grunting out the title of the track. The following track Venus, Morning Star is another track of that ilk. However, it could be argued that the upfrontness of the blast beats in this offering makes it feel more aggressive than Scorch Blind Faith. Venus, Morning Star is also the longest track on the EP, and contains a great solo that you should listen out for. However listening to these two tracks in unison makes me yearn for Sathamel to stretch their limbs beyond the 7 minute mark and show off even more, Venus, Morning Star shows they certainly have it in them.

I don’t want to accuse the next track Abaddon of being a thrash track. But, while it is missing the speed and balls out aggression of thrash. It does start with albeit a slowed down, thrash-esc riff. It is almost a “money riff” the heavy, groove laden riffs that epitomised the style of bands like Pantera. Abaddon as a whole is another doomy blackened metal offering that feels a bit more stripped than the other songs on this EP, but that is no bad thing. Sathamel are showing the scope of their song craft, and creating a stripped down offering can be just as hard as a musical masterpiece, especially writing one that keeps listeners listening. I feel Abaddon does that perfectly, mostly due to the groove that underpins it all.

Speaking of aggression Eternal Hunters hits hard with the opening drum pattern and does not relent. The last offering on the Hors d'oeuvres plate that is this EP. Eternal Hunters shows that Sathamel are more than doomy, groove laden, blackened death metalers. Blast beats and shredding is everywhere in this track, that promises to be a pit favourite and answers the question I asked myself when this EP, with an absolute finality. Sathamel, are worth watching. 

Sathamel was released 5th January and is available for digital download here, with a physical release coming later

Article by Gary Lee (@thewheelbear)

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