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SACROSANCT
Cosmic Horror

Self-released (2023)
Rating: 6.5/10

I guess all the cool band names were taken because Turkish black / death metal act Sacrosanct must have been unaware of the handful of acts to have used the exact same moniker. But nonetheless, Cosmic Horror is still a promising debut full-length offering.

After a short prologue the band rattles off a handful of sturdy and melodic tracks. The first of these being ‘Dark Assault’ which features some interesting and atmospheric keyboard work that you would come to expect from a black metal act. However, there are far harder dynamics on offer here as the band races aggressively yet concisely through its repertoire.

Vocally, it’s a forceful bark-cum-snarl over what is a rather mechanical sound at times, particularly in the percussive department. There is an air of technicality and crispness about the tracks on offer, just a shame then that it does all feel a bit mechanical at times. But you still get plenty of pace and aggression, albeit a lack of variety.

I do like the melody of the guitar on ‘Necronomicon’ (I’m still surprised bands are still revelling in Lovecraft), while ‘The First And The Last’ is delivered at a steadier pace and showcases brutality but through a more measured approach as subtlety is expressed. I also like the introductory suspense on ‘First Dawn Of War’ and the general thrashy approach which also comes to the fore on ‘Expurgatory Tale’, although there are times when what’s on offer feels a touch cold and generic but that’s just the way of this brutish and humourless posse which revels in its cosmic creativity.

Neil Arnold

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