Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 08:39 PM by Nikos Nakos
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: Greece
Label: Witches Brew
Year: 2016
The heavy metal act called Saboter (from Athens) return with vengeance, releasing their first full length album, entitled “Mankind is Damned”, which follows the release of their homonymous EP “Saboter” (read EP review here). No long introductions are needed to describe Saboter. They are dangerous hoodlums, having heavy metal as their banner and will probably keep us interested a lot in the years to come.
Here we’re dealing with the band’s second effort, but it’s actually their first full album and things have improved greatly. Most noticeably he band has improved its compositions. It seems that Saboter have safely made the next step; and by safely I mean that the group doesn’t deviate from what it previously delivered nor does it experiment out of its waters. Instead the band continues to build on what they set as basis before. The compositions are more mature and complete, although their play is ‘traditional’. The same goes for the vocals, which have improved mainly regarding the low ones (the high pitched vocals had a strong grinding quality that personally didn’t satisfy at some moments). The good thing, though, with Antonis’ vocals is this characteristic theatricality / drama, that adds another quality to the record (listen for example to “Impaler”).
This mixing of heavy metal with some elements of thrash metal seems to fit Saboter like a glove. It’s like “Mankind is Damned” sprung out of a chest where 80s American heavy metal (cascaded with a British cloak) gems are hidden. A sophisticated badassery, that is. Breaking the monotony with changes in rhythms (eg “Marching Death”), the complexity of the vocal range, the riffs that stick with you for a long time (listen to the “Sands of Time” to understand) is the recipe of success for Saboter.
I think “Mankind is Damned” reflects the modern Greek heavy metal community, indicating that there are bands with guts that can offer much to the scene. Of course, lovers of classic heavy metal have to give it shot, while this record can actually serve as a grand surprise for those who dismiss the local scene for some weird reason.
4/6
