When the esteemed editor of the site you are currently reading told me I was to receive an album by a “True Norwegian” band where each track was laden with demonic imagery and anti-religious bile I was worried that I was about to be forced to enter the world of the kvlt and grimm wearers of badger-face makeup. Fortunately, cruel as he may be, he was just having a little joke, and I sighed a hearty Sahg, sorry I mean sigh of relief as ‘Born Demon’ appeared in the mail, and damn is it good to have Olav Iversen deliver some new music having waited since 2016 when I laid my hands on their prior excellent offering ‘Momento Mori’.
Classic Metal, and yes the capital “M” is both necessary and earned, floods from the speakers with opener ‘Fall Into The Fire’, a skilful mix of thudding rhythms, chugging riffs, and clean vocals with a chorus laden with more hooks than a Cenobite orgy, Sahg laying their musical cards on the table and preparing the listener for what is to come. Lead track ‘House Of Worship’ follows, pulling on a pair of fingerless leather gloves to slap the face of oppressive Christianity before punching into the air with a celebration of rock, the band going on to explore their doomier roots in title song ‘Born Demon’, the slower delivery and massive chords summoning the image of Candlemass, albeit I find it hard to imagine those titans of the genre delivering such a concise sub four minute track. More classic sounds are paid homage to with ‘Descendants Of The Devil’, and after the opening chords I could have easily imagined the voice of Metal God Rob Halford ringing forth, such was the timeless quality of the music, before more gloom descends with ‘Black Cross On The Moon.’
‘Immortal’ arrives next barking at the moon with its combination of frantic guitar wizardry and sneering vocals, ‘Salvation Damnation’ with its more progressive time changes continuing the mission of the album to have every metalhead who hears it banging along, a purpose that does not let up one iota with ‘Killer Spirit’, a mid paced number blessed with both an instantly singable chorus, and a contrasting screaming hell-born choir to grab the attention of those whose tastes in music are more extreme and further down the left hand path than mine. ‘Heksedans’ follows, and whilst I’ve no idea what Mr Iversen is singing about, he delivers it with gusto, whilst the whole offering is finished off by the pomp of ‘Destroyer Of The Earth’, a number that sounded like it was written by Dio era Sabbath yet somehow was never laid down on tape by those glorious musical ancestors that Sahg so clearly pay respectful homage to.
I don’t remember who said it as if I did I would give credit where credit is due, but I remember a quote that goes along the lines of “in a world of fine dining and expensive wines, sometimes you just want a well cooked burger and a nice pint.” ‘Born Demon’ fits that description perfectly; it is not overly complicated, it is not pretentious, and it is not deliberately exclusive. Do not approach this album expecting weird experimental fusions and the avant-garde, rather it is plain and simply bloody good entertaining Metal, and what more could you want?
(8.5/10 Spenny)
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