Label: Nuclear War Now! Productions / Evil Horn Records / Old Library Records / Iron Pegasus Records / Skol Records
Date: April 6th, 2024
For any given band out there, when you say there’s a thirteen years distance between two albums, it would mean they’ve been either lazy or on a hiatus. Not Sabbat, though. Since 2011’s “Sabbatrinity”, they’ve published countless releases. If Agathocles are the kings of split releases, then Sabbat rules the kingdom of live recordings. Their collectors are suffering all nine circles of Dante’s hell. This album alone has vinyl editions on two labels, cassette editions also on two and even three versions of the CD, one being an exclusive digibook. My condolences if you want them all…
Meanwhile, the music of these legendary “samurai zombies” doesn’t change a single bit. And why should it!? Forty years into their existence, they are still unrivaled. Their native heavy thrash metal hasn’t even got a decent imitator and is therefore easy to keep quite fresh throughout such a lengthy career. Such is the case with “Sabbaticult”, too. A well-balanced record, between raw harshness and melodic delicateness. Surely, the ecstatic sharp edge of the early years has dissipated, but it was replaced with thought of compositional elegance. As much as we can even discuss elegance with an aggressively Satan-inclined band, such as Sabbat.
Their fans are pretty much used to the scenario they can expect out of the trio. Underlining the utter evil in the lyrics, Sabbat is driven by traditional, folk infused lead guitars and, often, solos. Surrounding them are perfectly ordinary thrashing riffs and rhythms and classic 1980s heavy metal aura. Gezol’s voice also keeps to the style which was invented and perfected by early thrashing black metal bands. Even if within his voice lays a distinct Japanese foundation, it is still an epitome of “darkness and evil”.
Basically, these eight tracks are expected, a mix between Sabbat’s regular bangers and atmospheric heavy metal passages that invoke the vilest of the ancient Japanese traditions. Whichever way you prefer, you’ll get your dose on “Sabbaticult”. Title track which also opens the record, its follower “Desecration”, “Black Metal Tornado” or “Witches’ Mountain”, take a pick. There’s no wrong with this band.
Unless you’re not a fan of this type of metal. But you’re not reading these lines if you’re not a fan, are you? So, fear not! Black metal samurais didn’t go anywhere!
P. S. In case you are wandering, yes, they’ve kept to the tradition of putting the title track of the previous album on the next one. “Sabbatrinity” is song number six on “Sabbaticult”. It’s just that they haven’t saved the song “Sabbaticult” for the next full length. Are they telling us something?
