Artist: Sargeist
Country: Finland
Label: Moribund Records
Formats: CD
Year: 2003
How, in Satan’s name, is it possible that I am able to fully enjoy this pure blasphemic black art in this incredible ongoing heat wave? Outside it’s about 34 degrees Celsius, and through my speakers there are darkened tunes thundering through my speakers like a winter blizzard. I totally forget that I actually have to sweat like hell, instead of that, I live in the delusion that I’m wandering dark forests and icy landscapes on my own.
Sargeist was born during the summer of diabolical apocalypse 1999 as a clandestine solo project of Shatraug. The first offering was captured at the Ruins Of Cachtice, performed entirely by Shatraug, later being re-assembled in 2000 with a session member. Both manifestations were released on Warmoon Records. In 2001 Sargeist was reinforced by new members and the “Tyranny Returns” tape LP saw its creation and ignition, again at the Ruins Of Cachtice. This led towards an unholy union assembled by the brotherhood formed between Shatraug and Torog, It was soon confirmed that Sargeist stand timeless, entering the Heinous Path with full-hearted and soul-woven black art… In late 2001 Moribund Cult singed Sargeist to curse this world with their depression, and a split 7″ EP with French terrorists Merrimack was released. Two songs, “Reaping With Curses & Plague” and “The Rebirth Of A Cursed Existence” were glorified in 2002 for Woodcut Rec. and Black Arts compilation CDs. Using all available time to saturate their hymns with depression., Sargiest entered Boneyeard Studio from winter 2002 through February 2003 to record their debut “Satanic Black Devotion”. Emerging near absolute – 0 -, Finland’s devoted Satanic disciples have chiselled a cold Black Metal masterpiece right off the Northern ice-caps
Sounding everything but original the band still know a way to grab my attention for an eternal journey through the dark. This is how blackmetal should sound, raw, fast, vile, penetrating and above all, pure evil. A Darkthrone-ish sounding album with a lot of sickened vocals to chase the summer feeling away. And again, no, this isn’t original, but so what? This is great quality blackmetal, but we couldn’t expect anything less – for members of Horna, Behexen and Pest are involved in Sargeist. I think there are not many words needed to describe this piece of doomed blasphemy. The blackened souls among you know what to do, they know what’s their destiny…
