Review SARKE “Endo Feight”

Norwegian Black’n’Rollers Sarke have a new album ready to be shipped to the record stores. “Endo Feight” is the title of the eighth full-length release from Sarke, Nocturno Culto, Steinar Gundersen and Anders Hunstad.

The latest effort from Sarke and his bandmates features eight songs of blackened rock and metal with a dark vibe with the opener “Phantom Recluse” setting the tone for the album.

The song rolls over you with a mesmerizing beat at a moderate pace. The song is like a sonic version of a hellish grin staring back at you. In combination with the embedded keyboards the song gains some extra density and is up to “Death Connection” to strengthen the positive first impression of this album. And Sarke deliver.

“Death Construction” follows a similar formula as the opener and yet sounds slightly different. While the musical approach doesn’t change, it’s an increased heaviness that distinguishes the track from the opener. It’s not an easy song to listen to, as it has some twists and turns, but at the same time it offers a lot of details to explore.

The whole spectrum of Sarke is rounded off with “Lost”. Narrative vocals and an expression of sadness and grief is what the track spreads throughout its 5 minute running time.

“Old Town Sinner” shows another aspect of Sarke’s musical vision. Melodic and black, that’s the basic mood of this up-tempo song, before “I Destroy The Cosmos” takes us back to the sea of sorrow. And as if a counterpart was needed, the following “In Total Allegiance” is a furious, blackened metal track. It is the heaviest piece on the album, while the more atmospheric and doom-laden “Macabre Embrace” marks the final chapter of the album.

Sarke’s 8th studio album is in line with the previous releases. Darkness, sorrow and doom are the dominant themes of an album that has the potential to turn colourful summer flowers into black.