When Swedish Epic Heavy/Doom Metal band Sorcerer reformed for 2015’s “In The Shadow Of The Inverted Cross” it was to all intents and purposes a new band with a new start, ready to make their own mark on the modern Metal scene. This was further underlined when founding member Johnny Hagel took a step back from Sorcerer before 2020’s “Lamenting Of The Innocent”, leaving the rest of the band to continue as they saw fit. That debut, very much in the classic Epic Doom Metal style the Swedes do so well, was clearly a mere starting point for a band who desired their evolution to push them further. “Reign Of The Reaper” is the next mighty and impressive step in that evolution.
The fact that all four of Sorcerer’s albums have been reviewed by four different Ave Noctum writers highlights the wide appeal the band actually have in the Metal spectrum. Regular readers will note the favoured Metal style that each writer has, and how they’ve approached the band from their own musical angle. If I personally didn’t know of the band’s initial links to early Tiamat and the Swedish Doom Metal scene, I’d have just focused on what interests me about the band members and the music they produce. For instance, I recognise guitarist Kristian Niemann from his work with Therion, new drummer Stefan Norgren is also in Prog/Power Metallers Seventh Wonder and I know the wonderful vocals of Anders Engberg from his time in Beyond Twilight (when they were just called Twilight) and of course with Progressive Metal band Lion’s Share.
Whilst there are still plenty of Epic Doom Metal elements throughout “Reign Of The Reaper”, still the defining core of the band’s sound, they have really taken their overall style into an epic, powerful Heavy Metal direction, but still with a doomy edge that few have managed to emulate quite as well, if at all. Sorcerer are unrelentingly, fabulously heavy, but also possess a melodic edge that the guitar lines and Engberg’s excellent vocals drive home with both force and subtlety. Anders Engberg incidentally has never sounded as confident and accomplished as he does with Sorcerer, carrying every vocal line and melody with utter conviction and professionalism, crowning the band as the class act that they clearly are.
With the people involved in Sorcerer, the band were never going to be satisfied with the shackles of mere labels, and thank goodness they’re willing to evolve, because whilst there is plenty of that earlier Epic Doom style on offer here (‘Unveiling Blasphemy’, ‘Eternal Sleep’ etc), it’s the variety of Metal that the band also manage to incorporate that makes them really stand out. This is an excellent Heavy Metal album with dark, gloomy undertones alongside an infectious energy and power. When combined this opens Sorcerer up to a much wider range of Metal fans than ever before, who can enjoy an album that is awash with thundering rhythms, show-stealing, attention-grabbing guitar-work, excellent vocals and expertly crafted songs. Sorcerer haven’t forgotten their roots, they’ve just grown from them, which is how it should be.
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
Leave a Reply