Sabachthani – Miserable endings

Sabachthani – Miserable endings

Started in 2004, Swedish gothic-metalers Sabachtani have been constantly evolving their sound. The peak of their evolution so far is this there debut album "Miserable endings" Released last year and containing just 6 extended tracks, stretches to almost an hour. Ranging from a cool 6minutes to an epic 12minutes the tracks of this album give a heap of variation. Apart from the expected slow doomy ambient sound, this album gives its fair share of thundering guitar heavy sections, to bass orientated interludes and there even a great bass solo.

From the start "Miserable endings" strikes you in an unanticipated way, with the opening track "Christabels Journey". Kicking off with strong mournful strikes of guitars and superb duel male and female vocals. These elements combined with the gentle use of keyboard and violin in this track aid to portraying a real sense of sadness and despair. This feeling really doesn't leave this album, but is only heightened still with the changing guitar, almost constantly playing in minor tones, the gentle acoustic picking of the guitar elevate the music to practically a emotional plain. This emotional side of this album is the most striking if over looked factor of this album

The staple male vocals are clearly influenced by Moonspell, with a strong deep, and powerful tone, rolling out line after line in almost talked fashion. Not only are the vocals slow they share a strong correlation with a sound of the music, as each track progresses the vocals changes from a calm voice, to become more agitated, and sometimes into roaring and growling screams. Dictated by the guitars progression into more chunky and heavier sounds, the vocals fills the air with a certain emotional tension that rises through out, to the peak of "Josephine's sleeper". The Lyrics of this album are fascinating, revealing morbid stories of pain and sadness, a carnival of misery.

Beautifully written, this album is of a high caliber throughout, bringing a well-calculated mix of emotion and musical expertise. Even right down to using just the correct amount of distortion at just the right moment to give an awesome sound and substance. A With work happening now on a follow up album, it will be interesting to see what happens next with this excellent band.

Best Tracks: The Skull of an Angel, Josephine's Sleeper
[9/10]
www.myspace.com/sabachthanisweden