Finnish Juggernauts Sadistik Forest have delivered another crunching and bruising package in the form of 4 track EP, ‘Obscure Old Remains’, which will maul and batter you from the opening chords of ‘Mandragore’ to the closing echoes of ‘Waters Black’.
The vocals of Makkonen are visceral and compelling throughout, delivered with intensity and purpose, but quite how he keeps the ferocity and intensity at the level he does whilst keeping the chugging and pummelling bass work at the severity exhibited is well and truly mesmerising.
It’s often difficult to pick out highlights of a release when there are only 4 segments to choose from, but I believe that there is a track which sits prouder and more elevated than its EP Siblings, and that is in the form of ‘Nihil’, an absolute beast of a creation. ‘Nihil’ really allows itself to showcase the six-string prowess of Heikkinen and Lahtinen while the pounding of the skins from Mutka is powerful and raucous.
This is an absolute marvel, and whilst not sitting directly in any particular solid death metal camp, it brings its own flavour and tinge to the genre, one which brings almost a welcomed freshness and rejuvenating quality with it. Not deviating too much from its accomplished predecessor, ‘Morbid Majesties’, this is a solid release and one certainly worthy of your attention
(8/10 Phil Pountney)
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