Sahg - III

Release Date: August 30, 2010
Label: Indie Recordings

TRACK LISTING

1.  In Through The Eye
2.  Baptism Of Fire
3.  Mortify
4.  Hollow Mountain
5.  Mother's Revenge
6.  Downward Spiral
7.  Shadow Monument
8.  Burden
9.  Denier
10.  Spiritual Void

Total playing time:  42:22

August 28, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

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*Comments:

Norway’s doom metal unit Sahg has at last issued its third release titled III after an agonizing two year wait. This is one band I fell in love with after hearing the first album back in ’06 and was equally impressed with II when it was released in ’08. For that old school doom style that seems to either catch itself on the proverbial fence post by being too slow or too fast, Sahg has had it just right up to now. I know well about the sophomore curse with releases, but I still felt that the second album was as strong as the first and lived up to expectations. So…how is III?   

I can honestly tell you that this band hasn’t lost a step in its pursuit of doom metal gold, however ugly and lusterless it can appears. III picks up the mantle of slow, heavy metal music that doesn’t get generic halfway through or appear phoned in like many of the albums today. You get the sense these guys simply sat around and decided to make another crunching album of music, planned it out, then recorded it - in, out, done. While very well produced, it doesn’t sound over-polished at all. Though clean in its delivery, it still sounds so lightly soiled in all the right spots.

Vocalist/Guitarist Olav Iverson still manages to conjure up an Ozzy Osbourne tone long lost to chemical damage and age, especially evident in “Mother’s Revenge”. His style is very Oz-like, yet retains a certain vibe that makes his efforts all his own. Tom Cato Visnes takes a break from Ov Hell and still pummels his bass like it’s his best enemy. It’s a far cry from his Gorgoroth days, but this is, of course, a different area for him and I enjoy it more every time I hear it. Thomas Lonnheim is the latest addition to Sahg and his drumming is a fine addition to the sound. Guitarist Thomas Tofthagen takes time away from Audrey Horne, the also-impressive alternative side project with Visnes, and expertly rounds out the fuzzy tone of the 70’s. I hated waiting two years, thinking they might just call it a day, but the wait was well worth it.

There is no doubt that III is a proper and worthy addition to the discography of Norway’s finest doom outfit. Strong tracks include “Downward Spiral”, “In Through the Eye”, “Mother’s Revenge” and “Denier”. I hear no filler tracks in here; nothing really feels rushed or as if it was thrown on to occupy space on the album, and the dark element hanging over the music is not embellished or obligatory by any means. Sahg also proves to be a great live band, pulling all of the punishing sounds they had lain down on the releases to the live audiences with little trouble. They were amazing a few years ago opening for Celtic Frost here in the States. This truly unassuming band has it all and I hope they get some much deserved attention.

While nothing could ever compete with Sabbath for the mightiest doom band Sahg can complement the fathers accordingly and III does just that.