SARDONIC WITCHERY: Barbaric Evil Power
Release year: 2024
Label: War March Records/Nekrogoat Heresy Productions/Abyssal Productions/Aniquilacion Satanica Productions
The promo sheet drops names such as Judas Iscariot, Celtic Frost, Darkthrone and Venom as references. Well, in the grand scale of things, all of these represent black metal, but there’s not too much of unifying ground between them. Not to the point where that quadruplet of references would pinpoint a stylistic niché.
But perhaps it does point to a direction in attitude: archaic, old school, uncompromising. And I guess that to some extent, that does describe Portugese-turned-US one-man act Sardonic Witchery. There’s certainly nothing modern or sophisticated about this.
In broad strokes, Sardonic Witchery’s style reminds me of what you’d be wont to hear around the turn of the millennium. In other words, clearly influenced by the second wave of black metal, but not slavishly imitating the classis of a decade before.
This means furiously buzzsawing tremolo-heavy riffs and speedy drums in a classic black metal style, but without sounding like norsecore. Instead, there is a certain heavy metal attitude and element to the sound, not least in some very traditional guitar solos. I guess that, indeed, in a way the quadruplet of references dropped earlier does describe Barbaric Evil Power when not taken too literally. Second wave style black metal with a heavy metal attitude.
Another take: Deströyer 666 trying their hands at traditional Scandinavian black metal. It’s quite a bit more specific, but I do think that quite aptly describes the ballpark area of Sardonic Witchery’s sound, from the hoarse snarl of vocals to the denim-and-leather barbarity of attitude, to the more heavy metal elements.
If there were more thrash in the mix, I’d probably drop a name like Desaster. Well, maybe they’re worth a mention as well as a point of reference anyhow.
By and large, there’s a lot on Barbaric Evil Power to like. The ride-or-die heavy metal attitude combined with rough-around-the-edges black metal is a functioning combo. I particularly like the violent and organic drumwork. Sole member King Demogorgon’s vocals are also nice in their hoarse, raspy snarl.
However, there really aren’t any hit tracks. No track stands out as memorable. All of the tracks are nice and competent, but it’s all a bit samey. Buzzsawing riffs, speedy tempos, masculine gruff vocals, but nothing much to separate this track from that. The touch of synths on Nocturnal Wanderer (Goddess Of Desire) is an individuating touch, but doesn’t make the track better – or worse – from the rest. The Tom G. Warrior style ughs and old school riffing at the start of Merciless Warrior Of Steel promise something nice, but ultimately the track proceeds to being the same old, same old.
The end result is an album that’s worth a spin or two, but becomes a bit numbing rather quickly. With each track sounding pretty much the same as the one before and after it, Barbaric Evil Power doesn’t have much lasting appeal. This is a shame, because there is a solid foundation of black heavy metal in here – hopefully, on the next go round, Sardonic Witchery will build something a bit more memorable on it.
Only Death Is Real 