2023-10-27 07:00:05
(c) Marieke Verschuren
It may be their fourth album since the reunion, but it still feels like a stroke of luck, Sorcerer to have back. The Swedes quickly found their way in their old, new music world and have been unpacking little Epic Doom delicacies non-stop ever since, always close to the big hit. For their latest prank, the quintet relied on a small, well-rehearsed team and at the same time tried to produce somewhat more aggressive, darker sounds. All of this comes together with the familiar, sweet and enchanting doom melodies „Reign Of The Reaper“ grow beyond yourself.
The opening “Morning Star” already sets all signs of a storm. While the intro suggests a Viking hymn like Amon Amarth, it quickly goes back to familiar territory – heavy, melodic, pleasantly ponderous. Anders Engberg sings his heart out, the chorus has a wonderfully classic metal coloring, the wild solo part drives through the bones. “The Underworld” seems relatively fast and powerful without completely moving away from its roots. This actually gets the Swedes wonderful and torpedoes all of their senses at the same time. More tempo and heaviness meets a larger-than-life anthem – it can be that simple sometimes.
“Reign Of The Reaper”, on the other hand, takes away all speed and instead relies on tension-filled force. You wait for something to happen, but Sorcerers cleverly delay the magical moment and instead shake out a variety of melodies – it can sometimes be that simple. In “Curse Of Medusa” a commitment to the old metal school emerges, flirting with the power subgenre, sparkling colorfully in places and yet sticking to the usual gravity. The ponderous, deadly sad “Break Of Dawn” is already lurking there, which is the perfect ending as a classic epic doom track.
With logical development, Sorcerers hit the jackpot. Instead of completely and completely overhauling everything, the Swedes are developing in installments. The additional power adds great value to their sound and at the same time complements the familiar epic beauty with its richness of melodies. “Reign Of The Reaper” finds the ideal mix and surpasses itself – one of the strongest Doom records of the year, with which Sorcerer have finally reached where they belong.
Rating: 9/10
Available from: October 27, 2023
Available via: Metal Blade (Sony Music)
Website: www.sorcererdoom.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sorcererdoom
Slider-Pic (c) Marieke Verschuren
Category: Magazin, Reviews
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