Sabbat (Jap) - Envenom

Artist; Sabbat (Jap)
Release Title: Envenom
Year: 1991 (2016 re-issue)
Label: Evil Records (Fallen-Angels Productions re-issue)
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Bewitch
2. The Sixth Candle
3. Satan Bless You
4. Evil Nations
5. Devil Worship
6. Reek of Cremation
7. Deathtemptation (Kanashibari Part 2)
8. King of Hell
9. Eviler
10. Carcassvoice
11. Dead March
12. Reminiscent Bells

Reissue tracklisting:
1. Bewitch
2. The Sixth Candle
3. Satan Bless You
4. Evil Nations
5. Devil Worship
6. Reek of Cremation
7. Deathtemptation (Kanashibari Part 2)
8. King of Hell
9. Eviler
10. Carcassvoice
11. Dead March
12. Reminiscent Bells
13. Satan Bless you (Rough Mix)
14. Evil Nations (Rough Mix)
15. King Of Hell (Rough Mix)

After starting as Evil since 1981, Japanese black/thrashers Sabbat quickly changed to this more-famous moniker and have made a name for themselves toiling in the underground with their ravenous first-wave style mixture of black metal and thrash. Taking their style to the very beginning of this wave as the album was originally released in March 1991 on the bands’-own Evil Records imprint, there has been various re-issues throughout the years including the latest one by Fallen-Angel Productions released June 3, 2016.

Being that this one goes for the first wave style of the genre, from the opening marks this one manages to really utilize the rather simplistic and charging nature of the band’s punk-laced roots by focusing on the simplistic riffing with a prominent punk attitude. The lack of the traditional black metal riffing style is given a much higher work here with the swirling thrash-style rhythm patterns that are much more prominent here alongside plenty of choppy drumming and stuttering patterns that really bring about a much more evident thrash influence here rumbling along while containing the same rabid riffing and darker atmospheres as the earliest practitioners of this style. Likewise, that also manages to infuse the album with a variance of styles and tempos throughout here, as there’s a healthy amount of ripping thrashers while also making enough room for a couple plodding doom-laced epics that slow the tempo down to more of a crawl, the bands’ trademark mid-tempo style charge complete with discordant riffing and even manages to thrown in a few enjoyably decent instrumentals that wind through a nice array of tempos as well which really completes the picture nicely. While all of these elements work rather well, the album does seem to stumble somewhat here with the amount of instrumentals present here as this one manages to fire off four different ones here that bookend the album in both cases, and it’s somewhat striking that it would chose to do so as it disrupts the momentum somewhat. Likewise, the album’s rawer sensibilities might be another challenge for those getting into this one as there’s not a whole lot of traditional elements here and it comes off with more of an earlier feel that might take some getting used to. Otherwise, this one was highly enjoyable and had quite a lot to really like.

Though it’s got some minor flaws that are barely worth mentioning in the grand scheme of things here since this one has quite a lot of worthwhile material, this one manages to start them off on a strong note here and manages to go for a wide amount of appeal for those into the rawer, first-wave black metal scene or fans of the bands’ career overall.

Score 88/100

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Nominon/Sabbat (Jap)/Blaspherian - Trident of the Macabre split album

Artist: Nominon/Sabbat (Jap)/Blaspherian
Release Title: Trident of the Macabre split album
Year: 2016
Label: Fallen-Angel Productions
Genre: Swedish Death Metal; Black/Thrash Metal; Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Nominon - Release in Death
2. Nominon - Mountain of Hate
3. Nominon - Son of Doom
4. Nominon - Rigor Mortis
5. Sabbat - The Egg of Dapple
6. Sabbat - Mion's Hill (20th Epic Gezol Version)
7. Sabbat - Splatter
8. Sabbat - Harmageddon
9. Blaspherian - Praising Impurity
10. Blaspherian - In the Shadow
11. Blaspherian - Lies of the Cross
12. Blaspherian - The Blessings of Sanctity Rescinded (Live)

The new split release bringing together Swedish deathsters Nominon, Japanese black/thrash maniacs Sabbat and Texas death metal revivalists Blaspherion on one platter is a wholly enjoyable sampling for each of the bands presented. Released March 5, 2016 on Fallen-Angel Productions, this is one of the more impressive and enjoyable splits in existence.

For Nominon, the name of game is straightforward Swedish death metal and they’re not fooling anyone with the opening notes signaling their intention of paying homage to those greats from the start. Deep, churning chainsaw-flavored grooves and that rattling old-school production are in full-effect and not for a second are dropped throughout here as the up-tempo rhythms are at the forefront of their attack and it’s just simple, straightforward efforts. This straightforward attitude might wear on some, but the competence of their attack more than makes up for it.

The Japanese entity Sabbat, known for their productivity and ardent work-ethic, offers a simplistic and slightly rawer take on the old-school black/thrash style as the central riffing is built around simplistic plodding thrash arrangements with plenty of weirdly-accented vocals that adds a wholly appealing dynamic to their sound. They’re ultra-simplistic and even somewhat sloppy in their arrangements, but those weird vocals over the raw rhythms make it a slightly more appealing take with these creating such a different stylistic take compared to the more death metal-oriented groups surrounding them on the split. The rawness and simplicity might be too much for some to take, but they’ve been around this long for a reason.

Lastly, Blaspherian is a rather curious case with their old-school Incantation-worshipping style that comes straight from their playbook. From the tight, swirling riffing and rather brutal attack, there’s a simplistic approach to their attack that’s given all the more life here based on their production style that effectively matches that dirty, droning style so prominent in that approach. It’s all quite obvious and apparent of this influence as the choppy swirling rhythms and propensity for including sprawling sections of extended laid-back tempos, yet this works for their favor by allowing for plenty of easy-access to their sound by being this familiar to their chosen approach.

The fact that all of the bands have some impressive and stylish work representing them is an impressive enough feat here that on the whole this effort serves as an easy introduction to every one of the bands featured and makes for a highly enjoyable and recommended split anyways.

Score: 85/100

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