Sarke – Vorunah (2009) [Indie Recordings] // Grade: A+

If you know who Nocturno Culto is then stop what you’re doing and buy this album, I don’t want to spoil the surprise.

Vorunah is Sarke’s epic first release since the band’s formation in 2008. The band has created a lot of hype in the Black Metal scene over the past few weeks. Mostly because it boasts Darkthrone’s Nocturno Culto on vocals. I don’t want to pull one of those “If you liked such and such, then you’ll love this album” lines, but it’s true. If you like Darkthrone’s work post-F.O.A.D. then definitely pick this album up.

Imagine Darkthrone without all the reverberations and washed-out riffs. In fact, the riffs are all different. There’s no boring repetition, no equations, no pre-conceived notions of what a genre should be. The album starts out with “Primitive Killing” and begins to shake all the nerdy and eclectic connotations Black Metal has. There’s no corpse paint here kids only epic double kicks, slowly-churning riffs and brutal force. More akin to a beefed-up Black Sabbath than Black Metal.

The second track, “Vorunah” begins with a Nu Metal intro reminiscent of the 90′s and immediately stiffens up with Culto’s metaphorical lyrics. “Even though I hate you, you’re on me like an old man’s dog”. Classic. “Frost Junkie” has an intro that drives an icepick through your spinal chord. Metal as fuck. The rest of the album relies on the previous track’s momentum to ultimately die at “13 Candles”. That’s why Vorunah is such a successful album, the tracks are all different in composition, tempo and ambiance. Just when you’re slowing down, you get a full dose of Pure Norweian Black Metal with “Dead Universe”, Blast beats and all.

Two intense minutes complete the 37 minute debut album from Sarke. Pray there’s more to come!

- Prolly