Sorcery - Arrival At Six [2013]

One might hold a million gripes against the newest storming debut by the Swedes Sorcery, another practice in clamorous chainsaw processions and grinding flesh and bone, no doubt something quite less meticulously plotted when compared to the band's more technical forerunners, but one should also bear in mind that Sorcery were a strong, if not mandatory addition to the death metal movement of the late 80's-early 90's which took place is Sweden, having released their cult classic and a personal favorite favorite of mine, ''Bloodchilling Tales'' back in 1991. It's undeniable that with their long-awaited debut, ''Arrival At Six'', which has a strange horror-themed flamboyance to it - not unlike the debut - the Swedes are more keen on actually flushing the residual anger and corpulence that was left unreleased, because of their brusque separation, with the booming standards of higher, more vivid production, rather than actually applying some ambition and dexterity into the mix, like those of Horrendous, Necrovation or Putrevore.

Though I thank the heavens the Swedes haven't lost their touch, as their compositions suggest, and in fact have gotten a smidgen sharper. ''Arrival At Six'' is still at the core of that antique, blunted Swedish sound that so many seem to ape these days, but the production is so massive the excursions are so continual with their bombardment of raucous carnality, that the record feels as if it took a step up in modernity, fleeing from the cave that sheltered their unrelenting, haunting sound, but in fact the Swedes' approach to death metal has only differed marginally. They still seem to relish bombastic breakdowns and prolonging equations formed with the crude edge of the blunted chainsaw; a murderous barrage of monstrous tremolos that quiver as they burst, and I also enjoyed the subtle avidity for creating somber ambiances - resuscitating nostalgia in an instant. One more thing that's probably noteworthy is the actual durability the record has. Normally, you'd have to fluctuate wildly for a draining 42 minutes, but without fidgeting a mere morsel from the same meaty formula, these veterans are able to suck you in over 5 minute compositions effortlessly, all thanks to the accentuated punch of the forefront guitar lines.

As Sorcery's oldest and sole vocal power, Ola Malmstrom also has a good deal of experience under his fluttering vocal chords. Instead of getting lost in the crashing haze of the guitars; a huge, wallowing timbre of chords and tremolos, his vocal delivery seethes through the bludgeon with a withered contrast that leaves a stronger mark in the ear than many in the same guttural field. Taking into account their entire discography of demos, compilations and another full-length, Sorcery are their paramount in ''Arrival At Six''. The Swedes have vaguely exhibited another way of presenting the same megalithic butchery tone; by simply encompassing the listener in a wealth of titular spikes, thus sucking in the listener in a vortex of craze and blood. Especially such tracks as ''Beyond The Wall'' bear some of the most battering Swedeath contents I've heard to date, a finesse that can only be surpassed by the masterful engineers of the sub-genre. There is already an endless stockpile of Swedes churning up the same kind of grime and bone, but even so, if you ever feel like 1989-1993, Sorcery's sophomore is more likely to entertain you than many of its kin.

Highlights:
 Beyond The Wall
Warbringer
United Satanic Alliance

Rating: 81%