Track Listing:
01. To Hell
02. Ravager
03. Dodengang
04. Ashes to Ashes
05. Inninence War Death
06. Stalingrad
07. Oblivion
08. Merciless

Rated:
6.5/10

Total Play Time:
45:32

Bands Webpage

Little known Dutch black metal band Sammath recently released their third full-length album “Dodengang” on the Folter Records label, and it’s a raw and filthy exercise in death metal tinged intensity. After undergoing a couple of line-up changes over the twelve years that the band has existed, the personnel has solidified as sole author and musician J. Kruitwagen, and human drummer Koos Bos. I emphasize the human aspect of the percussionist, because all too often these essentially one-man black metal bands rely quite heavily on drum machines to supply the rhythmic accompaniment. Poor drum programming is dismal at best, but even the most skillful use of a drum machine pales in comparison to the sound of actual drums and of a thinking being dealing them a furious beating, and Mr. Bos seems to go completely out of his mind here, turning in an inspired and manic performance that while often mixed a bit too loudly, really compliments the rest of Kruitwagen’s musical madness.

War themed, blasting insanity, somewhat similar to early Marduk is the focus of most of the tracks here, though the blast beats are not constant throughout. There are many slower, thrashier passages here as well. I’ve always been a fan of Dutch metal, but usually of bands in a more melodic death or thrash metal vein. I’m not sure I’ve really ever listened to any Dutch black metal bands, so it’s cool to get a feeling for how the genre is approached in that country. Trancey riffs swirl about and often follow along with the eerie and uniquely disturbing keyboard melodies in album best “Oblivion” which also takes an effective break for some sounds of battle. Songs at times go though several thematic shifts and never lose ferocity. “Stalingrad” and the title track “Dodengang” are other high-points. The second half of the album fares a bit better than the front, and the album definitely benefits from repeated listens. Though perhaps not the most memorable of albums, Sammath’s “Dodengang” will certainly please fans of raw, grim black metal looking for something a little less widely known.