Review SIJJIN ‘Sumerian Promises’

Here comes an exciting debut album that reaches us from Berlin, Germany. Sijjin started two years ago and kicking-off a new band right before a pandemic might challenging. If so, it can’t be experienced while listening to the debut ‘Sumerian Promises’, a savage blend of blackened death-/thrash metal.

The Basque/German collaboration starts with ‘Daemon Blessex’ into their first album, a song that acts as a statement for what to expect from these 45 minutes. A short galloping riff sets the starting point and quickly leads to the basic structure of the song. Sijjin proceed quickly and without compromise showing immediately where the musical roots of the band are to be traced.

Sijjin stomp through a total of eleven songs whereby the trio shows a remarkable variation. This becomes best noticeable in the middle section. ‘Angel of the Eastern Gate’ is a very rhythm-oriented song that is kept in a slower tempo. It’s the furious leads that stand out, without changing the basic framework.

What follows is a well-done acoustic interlude before the guys really push the envelope again with ‘Unchain the Ghost’.

Sijjin find a good midway between furious tempo, like on ‘Darkness on Saqqara’ and almost epic wrecking balls like ‘Outer Chamber of Eternity’. Since the guys not only play fast but also pay attention to groove and depth, ‘Sumerian Promises’ remains an exciting album that can be listened to several times from start to finish.

‘Sumerian Promises’ is an excellent debut. With wild horse energy, the trio premiers in an impressive fashion with songs that are a challenge for amp and speakers since you have the strong wish to turn up the volume. We can look forward to the next steps.