Review Summary: It’s unrelenting and fresh sounding metalcore from Austria.
Formed in 2005 and hailing from the state of Voralberg in western Austria, The Sorrow have given themselves a remarkably good chance at striking it big with their debut album
Blessings From A Blackened Sky. Through the release via Drakkar Records, The Sorrow have released a ferocious breath of fresh air on a genre that at times can become annoyingly cyclical. Debut metalcore albums of this quality are few and far between and fans across the genre are certain to reap the rewards.
Many fans of metalcore will tell you that there is nothing new happening within the genre. That bands are just sticking to the same formula and playing off their influences. While The Sorrow’s influences are pretty clear within their style of playing, this can be overlooked by the intensity, character and confidence these young Austrians play with. From the first seconds of melody infused intro “Elegy” right through the fifty minutes play time the band never take their foot off the accelerator (apart from the acoustic “Interlude”). Focusing only on delivering a performance of focused brutality with razor sharp riffs, pummeling breakdowns and brilliantly produced transitions between these two elements. All delivered with devastating heaviness whilst remaining melodic and catchy enough to hold the listener’s attention.
The Sorrow have taken metalcore and made it their own. Using their own techniques that they have honed to near perfection, it’s clear this band do everything their own way and will not compromise on any grounds. Second track “The Dagger Thrust” fortifies the band’s approach. Introduced with a thrashing riff that is the core of the song, this is beautifully transitioned with breakdowns and a sky scraping chorus. The vocal performance from Mathias Schlegl is positive and assuring right through the album. Delivering beautiful choruses on tracks such as the infectiously heavy lead single “Knights Of Doom” and “From This Life”. They do well not to stick to the same routine of screamed verse/sung choruses though, “Numbers Of Failures” is immense right through, never slowing down and a sinisterly delivered chorus make it an album highlight. Drummer Dominik Immler turns in a solid showing also. Contributing to the overall impact of the band with some great breakdowns such as on “Thirteen Years”
The core of this record is the guitar work. Every track is rife with enormous grinding hooks and riffs of brilliant quality. The other rudiments that make this album the force it is are built around this solid foundation and coalesced flawlessly without compromising the bands sound. This is best experienced with undoubtedly the best track on the album “Saviour, Welcome Home”. A very quick sounding seven minutes begins with a minute long serenade of beautiful acoustic guitars with an underlying piano melody. When this concludes all hell truly breaks loose. A gargantuan riff, one of many we experience here, lays waste to all before it. Another highly contagious chorus is present, as are the breakdowns we come to expect and a beautiful dual guitar solo. This tranquility is soon blasted away though with the return of the main riff which gives this song its ferocity. The outro to song and album allows us to reflect on what we’ve just experienced; a monstrous piece of work from a band that are guaranteed big things in their future.
Blessings From A Blackened Sky confidently sets the standard for every other release in the genre. If enormous sounding riff laden metalcore is your thing you’ll find everything you’re looking for here and more. If you do not fit the above criteria this album may still have something on offer for you and should not be discarded simply because of its genre label. Upon hearing this record one has to feel excited about what these young men will have to offer in the future. The Sorrow have done their country, as well as themselves, very proud here.
as well as overall thoughts of the review!
