Sarcofago- Hate (Album Review)

Musician: Sarcofago
Album Title: Hate
Genre/ Subgenre: Black/ Thrash/ Death Metal
Label: Greyhaze Records
Release Date: May 15, 2020

The release of Sarcofago's Hate ends Greyhaze Records' complete reissues of the influential Brazilian band's recorded output (I have reviewed two of those here). Hate is often overlooked, but it stands out as a dark and fascinating release from the band. There are some bold moments, but this still has it's heart in black metal. The remastered music, taken from the original master tape, sounds fucking phenomenal.

The songs are crushing and filled with bleak and somber lyrical content. Topics such as suicide, murder, and madness are covered with punishing music. Songs tempos shift from groove filled crunch to unrelenting speed. The later is accomplished, in part, due to inhuman drumming. Mostly cause said drums are not played by an actual person but are instead programmed in.

The album opens with "Intro- Song For My Death" a blistering and full speed attack with morbid lyrics. The pure black metal assault of "Pact Of Cum" will batter you from the moment it starts. Speaking of speed, the title track has this punk meets black metal meets thrash sound, especially when coupled with the lyrics about hating, well every fucking thing and everyone. The thundering riffs of Wagner Lamounier's guitars in "The God's Faeces" are some of the coolest he's played. Meanwhile, the chorus of said somg will have signing right along. This all results in some killer fucking music.

Sarcofago's Hate isn't as talked about as some of their more classic work, but it still one hell of an album. With some bold tempo and style shifts, it manages to stand out in the band's discography. With this awesome remastered release, it will hopefully be listened to by more fans of early black metal. Just look over the use of a drum machine and enjoy the dark and ass kicking music.

3.5 out of 5

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Sarcofago- Rotting (Album Review)

Musician: Sarcofago
Album Title: Rotting
Genre/ Subgenre: Black/Thrash/Death Metal
Label: Greyhaze Records
Release Date: Sept. 2, 2016

This is a reissue of Brazilian extreme metallers Sarcofago's 1989 classic album Rotting. It features a gorgeous new layout and comes with a bonus live DVD of a performance from their 1991tour with Morbid Angel (who where supporting Altars of Madness, at the time).

If you've heard this influential album, then you know that is incredibly technical proficient and impossibly fast. If you haven't, then unholy shit do you ever need to!  

There are only six songs on this EP and everyone of them are truly fucking killer. With the exception of the 29 second long intro track "The Lust", which consists of samples of a girl's orgasm sounds and monstrous shrieking, and the almost punkish "Sex, Drinks, & Metal", which clocks in at 3:27, the other four songs are long. They range from the lightning fast 6:03 "Alcoholic Coma" and the epic 8:53 "Tracy".

The music showcases technical superiority and complexity. It firmly puts the music in a death metal category and exemplifies just how influential they were in the extreme metal world. Lyrically the band may talk a little bit about boozing, but they mostly lean towards dark and evil subject matter like killing and fucking one's dead, lying girlfriend, anti-Christianity, and hell. In other words, good, wholesome, and tender fun!

Making this even more of a most own is the excellent, quality in sound in this reissue. Sure it sounds dirty and rough, but it's also clear and full. Combine everything I just said and you have an absolute most own for fans of early death and black metal, and those who love to learn about the history of extreme metal.   

5 out of 5

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Sarcofago- Die Hard (Album Review)

Musician: Sarcofago
Album Title: Die Hard
Genre/ Subgenre: Black/Thrash/Death Metal
Label: Greyhaze Records
Release Date: Oct. 7, 2016

Brazilian underground act Sarcofago were a huge influence on extreme metal, most especially, the second wave of black metal bands (Darkthrone, Mayhem, etc). This is a vinyl LP reissue of the 2015 compilation, the only to officially be released with their demos. It sounds like this will be a stunning looking release. 

From the official press release:
Beautifully packaged as a double-LP with Gatefold Jacket, the album will be available on black and limited-edition yellow vinyl, including an over-sized booklet and poster, as well as liner notes by SARCOFAGO front man Wagner Antichrist.

Sounding like Venom at an even more furious pace, this is fast, heavy, and dirty sounding music. Chaotic and angry, it's a an all out aural assault. While, perhaps not as well known as the aforementioned band or other proto-black metal acts like Bathory and Celtic Frost, the influence on the genre can be felt from the initial riff. As one would expect, the vocals are harsh and growling. Signer Wagner Antichrist also has a ear shredding, high pitched almost King Diamond like scream that he throws in for a few bursts here and there in s couple of songs. It really sets him apart from others in the subgenre. The dirty sounding guitars have blade shredding riffs that help to punctuate it. While, the drumming is fast and furious blasting it's way through the songs. 

Included in this upcoming compilation are a couple of demo versions a select batch of songs, showcasing the various versions of them. But, no matter what version you hear songs like "Satanas", "Nightmare", the vicious "Third Slaughter", and the unrelenting machine gun assault of "Satanic Lust" are full throttle blasts of speed. Being that these are all from demos, one should bare that in mind when hearing the songs, as far as sound quality goes.

Aside from the sound in music style the songs are righteously Satanic in nature so that coupling with the hellish musical sounds are Satanic and blasphemous lyrics. While, all the songs are good, a couple, beyond the aforementioned, like the blistering, evil, and wonderfully over-the-top obscenity of "Desecration Of Virgin" really stand out. It is just such a furious attack on the senses! "Satanic Lust"opens up a catching little groove that heads right into a speed metal bashing. The crunching riff of "Secrets Of A Window" will have you banging your head. 

Available to buy on Oct. 7, 2016 (you can pre-order it here: http://store.greyhazerecords.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=440) this is a must have for LP collectors and black metal fans, in particular those interested in the genre's history and influences.

   
5 out of 5

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