SARCOPTES - Prayers To Oblivion
Transcending Obscurity Records
A few decades ago it was one man black metal acts being touted for creating amazing arrangements. But after a while their limitations started to show. Nowadays it's the two piece acts which are the real mind blowing phenomenon. Case in point here we have this two piece black metal act from California.
The band is made up of Sean Zimmerman who handles guitar, bass and keyboards. Then you have Garrett Garvey who is drummer and vocalist. Together this duo creates some ferocious sounding thrashy black metal with subtle symphonic touches. Now if I had to guess just from the releases' overall sound. I would've thought this was a five piece act. So it just goes to show never doubt the abilities to dedicated musicians.
Prayers to Oblivion is the second full length by SARCOPTES. They do have two EPs as well. The key to this dynamic duo's music is savage guitar riffs, maniacal precision drum work and violent raspy vocals. The added synths bring on the symphonic touches but as I mentioned earlier it's subtle in a timely manner. It all comes across well arranged and with some superior production.
This album contains five cuts with three of em going over the thirteen minute mark. When was the last time you heard a blackened thrash act do a thirteen minute opus? Next up is that all five cuts on here deal in the subject of war and tragedy in specific ways. Opener "Trenches" deals with World War 1. "Spanish Flu" obviously deals in the subject of that early 20th century disease outbreak. "Tet" and "Massacre at My Lai" both deal in Viet Nam War history. I haven't figured out what "Dead Silence" is about except for forgetfulness of those who perished under these tragedy's. It also contains the one great stand out guitar solo on the album.
All in all Prayers To Oblivion is a pretty amazing release. While listening to this multiple times I couldn't help but think of ABSU. Maybe I see them as an influence because of the drummer / vocalist thing as well as having a running theme to shape the album. And their previous releases also fall into that perspective. Add to that the overall impact of the song writing and the power in conveys upon the listener. I can't imagine how they can recreate this in a live setting. But either way it's a great listen.
LISTEN HERE:
https://sarcoptesblack.bandcamp.com/album/prayers-to-oblivion-black-metal
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