If you added up all the other bands that the current members of Den Saakaldte play and have formerly played in you would get somewhere in the region of 30. The words super group are often thrown around to describe a band and here is no exception, although this lot are quite unique in sound and certainly are not a cobbling together of their other projects. Mikael Sykelig put the group together in 2006 and they really created a big impression last year, gaining 10th best newcomer in Terrorizer reader’s poll, playing one of the most in the face and demented sets courtesy of singer Kvarforth’s onstage antics at Party San and releasing the excellent ‘All Hail Pessimism’
Now thanks to Aesthetic Death we have the chance to pick up an expanded version of their first demo ‘Øl, Mørke og Depresjon’ (that’s Beer, Darkness and Depression) on both CD and vinyl. This was originally released in a limited edition of 1000 on Eerie Art Records in 2008. It is instantly appreciated that this does not sound like badly recorded demo fodder either. This is professionally recorded by a band with a wealth of experience. A few of the songs were redone for Pessimism but are different versions here so this is a great accompaniment even if you already have that album. One that is not on it is the opener ‘Gjenspeilingen av Knuste Minner’ a piece of quiet and eerie carnival music, the sort you could imagine Anton Lavey tinkling away on the piano as he entertains his guests. First number proper is ‘Drikke ens Skål’ where a horn section makes this completely unique. As the song really boots in with a trademark death grunt the pace lurches around like a drunk on the floor unable to regain their footing. Skeletal guitar passages worm their way out like maggots oozing from pus laden scabs and they really remind me of some of the riffing from the most recent Dodheimsgard album, despite the fact that at this point none of the players had apparently served time in that particular band. Some crazed piano comes from nowhere and then the glorious scything whiplash of ‘Vandringen’ is bolstered by Kvarfoth retching and reeling out his parts in a most deranged fashion. Complete with acoustic interludes and supercharged musical thrusts this is a glorious number of ‘fuck you’ nihilistic distemper and it sounds fantastic as this original version. A very macabre and alien sounding instrumental ‘Øde’ adds atmosphere before the sassy horns of longest track ‘Jag Är den Fallna’ sleaze their way into another tumultuous and epic bout of abject misanthropy.
There are a couple of previously unreleased extras here. First up is another version of ‘Vandringen’ which does sound like a much earlier demo and was recorded back in 2006. This is particularly interesting as it features Sykelig on vocals and an impressive rasping job he does too. Finally there is a live version of ‘Mesias’ recorded at Norway’s Inferno Festival in 2009 giving you the chance to hear just how chaotic the band can be in the flesh. Chances are you missed this first time around so its great that Aesthetic Death are giving us the chance to listen to the bands early recordings. There’s plenty of depression and darkness here, all you need do is provide your own beer.
http://www.myspace.com/densaakaldte
