CD Title: Dodengang
Year: 2006
Website: www.sammath.nl
MySpace: www.myspace.com/sammath666
Label: Folter Records
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks and Burning Misery
Rating: 9.5 / 10
More Links: Interview with Jan (2007), Sammath Forum Thread, "Strijd" Review
I’ve definitely been in a Black Metal mindset recently, so I was thrilled when I received “Dodengang”. Up until this point I had never heard of Sammath before, and judging by the lack of response on the couple of forums that I’ve enquired about them on, not many other people have heard of them – which is a shame, because they’re rather good.
Have you ever wondered what war would sound like if somehow it was converted into music? Well, wonder no more for Sammath have provided us with the answer! “Dodengang” is eight tracks of relentless Black Metal with war as the prominent feature in the lyrics (and a few gunshots thrown into the title track for good measure). Throughout the album I had the urge to run into the nearest forest, while wearing my favourite spikey armband and some corpsepaint and look menacingly at any passers by. Don’t worry, this is a good thing!
In all seriousness though, this is a fantastic album and I found that I was immediately impressed by it. After a few listens I started to notice bits and pieces that impressed me even more. For instance, check out the melodies in the title track or the ferocious riff that opens “Ashes To Ashes”.
The only thing that may put people off this album is that, unless you’re a die-hard Black Metal fan, Sammath may appear to be ‘just another BM band’. But worry not, dear reader – Sammath are addictive, grim, obscure and extreme. What more could you ask for?
NOTE: Some of the tracks from this album are available to listen to on the Sammath website.