Jewelcase, with 12-page Booklet
It’s that time again, wherein I cover a Finnish black metal band, but not just any Finnish band. After a very protracted time gap filled with silence, a massive lineup change and a slow but sure return to the stages,
Sargeist have returned with their newest opus, ‘Flame Within Flame’, released through World Terror Committee.
Sargeist really needs no introduction, they’re not just one of the Big 4 of Finnish black metal –alongside
Horna,
Behexen and
Satanic Warmaster– but they’re also the golden standard of 21st century black metal, and the band that has been copied the most in terms of sound. But besides that, the biggest change in Sargeist since their preceding record in 2018 is the lineup change; as the quintet is now a quartet, the band’s mastermind and primary creative force; Shatraug for the first time since the band’s formation has retaken lead vocal duties, and is now joined by his Horna compatriot Spellgoth on bass, Spaniard drummer extraordinaire Nur-i-Siyah, and devoted American black metal shredder VJS, who remains with the band still since 2014.
With such a significant change, does this mean the band is entering a shift or will the new lineup continue in the tradition of the most foul Satanic arts? The answer is a bit of both. Musically the band still play to their strengths, highly aggressive and raw, with funereal melodies and with a heavy Finnrock grounding. The most significant change is, of course, Shatraug on vocals. Sargeist throughout its quarter century existence has had not necessarily distinct eras, but certainly periods marked by who lends his vocals in the name of Satan, most people are familiar with Behexen frontman Hoath Torog’s tenure and providing his distinctly hateful shrieks for the longest time, who was then followed by underground stalwart Hellwind Inferion aka Profundus, who despite his short tenure for 1 album and 2 side releases still was able to leave his mark on the band with a style of vocals that was less hateful but more ritualistic and no less impactful, so how does Shatraug perform?
The answer is as good as his predecessors while keeping a distinct identity. Shatraug’s vocal style can be described as morose and wretched, in a good way, and it perfectly matches the music’s overall atmosphere and tone, the overall presentation is similar to Profundus in the sense that the vocals are meant to be a sinister presence to the music, and since Shatraug’s vocals are much more weathered and dejected (again, in a good way), the picture the album paints is of a rotting corpse delivering unholy sermons to great effect.
In regards to the actual music, the vocal change is perfectly complemented by it, while the band stay true to themselves, this particular album’s atmosphere is definitely much more somber and dare I say? Depressive? Actually that’s a strong word, and Sargeist has always had a sorrowful bent in their more melodic moments, but this record definitely feels more sorrowful than the one before, and in a strange way, the record seems to hearken back to the band’s earliest days, while maintaining the sense of refinement and proficiency they’ve accumulated through the decades and various lineups, so it feels very appropriate that the new lineup embodies a rebirth in order to proceed to its next period.
And to finish (ha) off, I do want to highlight the line’s up individual strengths, particularly the new blood; particularly how Spellgoth excels as a bassist, he is of course a man of many talents, as a frontman, as a guitarist and as a musician in general, and his bass lines on this record are a major highlight and welcomed surprise, Nur-i-Siyah is also a worthy addition and he of course delivers, as befit the talent of an internationally renowned drummer. And of course, I cannot end this without praising both Shatraug and VJS as guitarists, both are seasoned veterans, but in this record their guitar interplay has been completely perfected, they definitely feel like the black metal equivalent of prime
Iron Maiden dueling guitars.
All in all, Sargeist continue their streak of consistently great black metal and with a renewed sense of vitality after a large break and a lineup change.
Sample: Sargeist - Flame Within Flame (Full Album 2025)
