Recorded and mixed at Unisound Studios during June and July 1995.
Mastered at The Cutting Room.
Official release under license Adipocere Records. Limited edition 200 hand-numbered copies on blue Tape!!!
The tracks are listed sequentially.
Orders: afinedaytodieprod@gmail.com
If you were in the Swedish black metal scene in 1996, chances are, you would be well aware of the melodic black metal band Dissection, who released their critically acclaimed album "Storm of the Light's Bane" just a year earlier. However, there was another band in the area that played similar music, but was less known, and that was Sacramentum. In 1996, they released their debut album titled "Far Away from the Sun", which initially didn't gain huge attention at first. However, the sound FAFTS had would be very unique and would actually make the band stand out in the melodic black metal scene.
One great thing about the album is its instruments. While the band has plenty of Dissection-inspired guitar riffs, they also had plenty of other signature styles. The guitars play some melodic riffs that have a dark edge in them. This gives the overall sound of the riffs a mix of darkness and lightness, which works well. The drums also beat in fast and chaotic patterns, but it's also mixed in with some slower and technical beat patterns, and it is executed well. The bass isn't audible in some portions of the tracks, but still provides an excellent foundation to the tracks. The production is also a lot better than many other black metal albums at the time, so the riffs sound more clear and the instruments are balanced enough so that one doesn't overpower the others. Some of my favorite instrumentals from this album would be in "Far Away from the Sun", "Blood Shall Be Spilled", and "Cries from a Restless Soul" since it has some nice, melancholy riffs and an incredible atmosphere of power. The instrumentals and production on this album are great and are on-par with Dissection.
Another great element about this album is the vocals. Nisse Karlén does the vocals here, and his voice sounds excellent. He vocals mainly consist of shrieks, but it also includes other styles in the middle of certain tracks. One great example of this would be in the track "Blood Shall Be Spilled". The more harsh and aggressive instruments fit very well to Karlén's raging vocals. However, when the track slows down a bit, Karlén proceeds to chant about sacrifices, and it sounds great with the more grander tone of the moment. This range of shrieks and chants can be found throughout the album, and they sound fantastic.
Even the lyrics are great. While the lyrics on this album can be dark, it can also be more lighthearted. For example, in the track "Beyond All Horizons", this verse quotes:
In a faded dream where sleep is eternal,
Oceans of blackness carry me with pride.
Naked am I sleeping beyond all horizons,
Where endlessness is all
And death breathe with calm.
In the jaws of death's pale cold face
Am I riding towards my only gleaming
Treasure.
Karlén screams about being in an eternal sleep where he flies in a black ocean abyss. The lyrics have a tone of melancholy and sorrowful in them, and they are written well with the descriptions of power and hopelessness. Not only that, but these lyrics are also further enhanced with the instruments. The instruments there start off with an acoustic guitar playing a soft riff that brings in an atmosphere of sadness before playing some of the most melodic riffs in this album, which makes the lyrics sound more depressing. The lyrics on this album are written greatly, and are further executed by the instruments.
While Sacramentum may not be the most well known melodic black metal band out there, there's no doubt that "Far Away from the Sun" is a classic. The instruments play a good mix of dark and light moments, the vocals are diverse and flow well to the instruments, and the lyrics are very poetic and well-written. Even though the band hasn't released a new album since 1999, their debut album still remains their magnum opus. If you're looking for a Dissection-like album with its own uniqueness, "Far Away from the Sun" is an album I'd recommend.
Sample:
Official promo video:
