I have mentioned before about extreme musicians showing their more sensitive sides and using offshoots and side projects from their main bands to go back to their roots. Out of all those that go retro-tripping and back in time to the sounds of the 70s and 80s the one that has probably got the most recognition for doing so is Sahg. Now on album III (and yes the numerology of their album title should not be lost on anyone), they are a band whose releases may even be beginning to be more reverently anticipated than those of their better known projects, indeed with the wide appeal to be found here they may even be on the point of surpassing them! In case you were not aware Sahg consist of Olav of Mannagard and Thomas of Audrey Horne as well as Tom Cato Visnes otherwise known as King Ov Hell from the former soap opera that was Gorgoroth and now Ov Hell, God Seed, I and various others. They are on this album now joined by new drummer Thomas Lønnheim.
I loved albums I & II and had a quick spin to reacquaint myself with the warm glow they always seems to give me. These are perfect summertime albums, airy light and full of fragrance and number III despite taking a little while, has began to win me over with its spell. The ten tracks here all have a real timeless and classic feel to them and this is an album that really could bridge generations appealing to young and old. It’s one of those albums a rebellious teen could shock their hippy parents with and in all the right ways, hell it could encourage them all to sit around together and smoke the pipe of peace.
‘In Through The Eye’ sets things up with acoustic guitar adding a splash of mellowness before ‘Baptism Of Fire brings it all down. This has a killer chorus and great melody, all enforced with a stomp, so you can happily bang away and revel in its monstrous groove. Once you have recovered from that main opening song there is plenty more to enjoy but it is one that you wonder if they can possibly top, this is a Baptism that takes some beating. ‘Mortify’ rocks on with a biker laden chug about it as it cruises down the highway like the bastard son of Free. Another anthem enforced by a persuasive melody, by now the claws are out and reeling the listener in with mighty hooks and wild solos to lose yourself in. Has anyone ever used the song title ‘Hollow Mountain?’ Obviously it could hardly be a Holy one but you know what I mean. There are moments here where vocally I am reminded of Peter Gabriel and the progressive flow of the song really washes of you. Ooh listen to the opening reverb enhanced vocals on ‘Mother’s Revenge’ who does that remind you of? It’s a classic Sabbath moment and like stepping back into a time-warp.
Sometimes this happens but it is only when I sit down to actually review an album that it really sinks in just how good it is and this is one of those times. Every single track has a great and unique identity to it and it is one where I could go mad about each and every one. The main thing I will say is that it is an album flowing with great melodies and the more you listen to it the more you become addicted. II made my albums of the year list and III could well be following it. Despite a lot of tough competition again this year, it is an album that has done something different, despite the fact it has done something that has been done plenty of times in the distant past. Anyway in closing I’m going to listen to the last few tracks in peace and feel slightly sorry for getting your expectations up as it looks like you are going to have a month to wait from reading this to picking the album up. When you do, enjoy, I have!
http://www.sahg.no/site
http://www.myspace.com/sahg
