Sørgelig "We, The Oblivious" CD

Debut CD, limited to 500.

Having only been formed in 2017 Greek black metal warriors Sorgelig have already put out one full length and two EPs before their second album “We, The Oblivious” which is subject to this review. One can already tell from the cover artwork and the font of the band’s logo that this is going to be as old school as it gets.
Like it is the case with more or less each metal genre having its origins way back in the eighties there is little room left for innovation. There is a reason why some bands made big waves back then and have gained a lot of followers over the past decades. Sorgelig are clever enough to pay tribute to some of the big names and chose a quite conservative approach of taking all the well-known single pieces putting them back together and enhancing them with a little bit of own DNA to create something that sounds familiar but fresh and a little bit different at the same time.
The classic tremolo lines are in full force and there are a lot of the typical epic and melodies that we all know from the Scandinavian bands of the second wave of black metal. There are also clear references to the minimalistic and raw approach that used to define black metal in the beginning but also some bits that have a more laid-back and less adventurous feeling. Atmosphere is something that is important for each black metal outfit and Sorgelig are no exemption making sure that “We, The Oblivious” presents an eerie and gloomy trip to the glory past.
Beside the spectacular guitar work also the rhythm section has to be mentioned. The drumming is precise following the main patterns of each song and highlighting several sections where an extra portion of intensity is needed. What really impressed me is the professional level of the songwriting. Each of the songs has a clear structure and Sorgelig managed to make the single tracks memorable without sounding fluffy or simplistic. There is a good portion of rhythm and tempo changes but overall the songs follow a clear and stringent structure. The soloing parts are well implemented and never overstay their welcome. More atmospheric harmonies are used to give the whole album the feeling of one connected piece of music.
The production is almost flawless with the right combination of rawness and clarity to give each instrument and sonic detail enough room to breathe. The end result is a very natural and organic sound fitting the music like a glove. The CD version comes with nice and atmospheric artwork so each collector should be glad to get enough worth for his money.

Sample: