Review HANGMAN’S CHAIR “Saddication”

French metal outfit Hangman’s Chair seems to be a fairly new band, but this is actually a misconception. The four-piece formed in 2005 and have released six albums to date. The fact why they could be considered as a new band is that the attention grew after they signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. “A Loner” was the first record to be released by the southern German label and brought Hangman’s Chair to the attention of a wider audience in the metal universe.

“Saddication” is the title of the new album that will hit the shelves these days. Hangman’s Chair has made a shift from stoner and doom metal to a more gothic driven sound of darkness. There is a lot of melancholy in these songs. Influenced by the sound of bands like Type O Negative, but also Life Of Agony, the Frenchmen lyrically focus on the rough parts of life. Suburban life, drug abuse and the loss of friends are themes that echo through the songs on “Saddication”.

The album features dark tracks like “2am Thoughts”, a song with very soulful vocals, driven by a down tuned riff and a strong bass line. Each of these songs is wrapped in a dark musical blanket and is a glimpse into the human soul. Listening to “In Disguise” is an immersive experience. Hangman’s Chair creates an atmosphere of sorrow and grief that is dominant but doesn’t completely take over. There is always a silver lining that sometimes shines through the gray clouds of everyday life.

Handman’s Chair release an album that doesn’t focus on the happy side of life. It deals with struggles and problems, giving the album the necessary intensity. Combined with good melodies and a solid portion of heaviness, “Saddication” represents the next step of a band you might want to check out.