Sabhankra: Revenge

The third album from Turkish melodic black power metal outfit Sabhankra, Revenge arrived in 2016 and since then they have also released a fourth, From The Frozen Mountains, two years later. Since forming fifteen years prior to the release of this selection up for review the band have released a lengthy list of singles, EPs and, of course, albums, with the earliest hitting way back in 2006. By the time that Revenge was sought, this outfit had pretty much refined their Children Of Bodom like attack of thrashy guitars and blackened vocals, all underpinned by some big, thick keyboard melodies that allow for a solid sound that keeps you locked in, while never really suggesting that you’ve discovered something new.

You can pretty much be assured that once Sabhankra hit top gallop that they are guaranteed to stay there. Subtlety isn’t really an option and there’s also not much variance from the buzz-saw charge of “Cursed Sword� to the slightly more pummelled “Eternal Rage�. Vocally Savas Sungar is a strong presence, a throaty roar never becoming too over the top, while still possessing enough bite to cut through the guitars. On occasion the keyboards are allowed to push their way to the front and a few tracks contain little atmospheric solos but for the main they are in place to bolster the size and imposing ability of the main riff. And while that’s pretty much a standard feature for this style, it can begin to feel just a little too formulaic as “Abandon By The Gods� or the admitted album highlight “You Shall Die� hurtle past.

What is interesting is that three bonus cuts are added to the eleven songs proper, with the reappearance of main album cuts, “You Shall Die� and “To Die For A Lie�, alongside the standalone piece, “Buried The Dust�. Admittedly the sound quality and volume drops off considerably but hearing the process whereby these songs started out as much more keyboard and melody focused is an interesting one and while it would be unfair to suggest that any of the three top the final track selections, the are worth hearing on their own merits.

If that Children Of Bodom, or maybe even Kalmah sound is something that you just can’t get enough of, then Revenge comes reasonably recommended. Even then however, it’s hardly the sort of album that’s going to change your life.

Track Listing
1. You Will Die
2. One Shall Fall
3. Cursed Sword
4. Immortal Son
5. Revenge
6. Eternal Rage
7. Hate
8. I Will Die With Your Love
9. Nightmare
10. To Die For A Lie
11. Abandoned By Gods
12. You Shall Die (demo)
13. To Die For A Lie
14. Buried The Dust

Added: May 19th 2019
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Revenge @ bandcamp
Hits: 916
Language: english

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