Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Sweet Sorrow
Release: 2009
Runtime: 41:04
Rating: 4.5/5
The Slovenian metal scene can definitely brag that it was chasing the world scene right from its first years, whether we’re talking about the heavy metal boom at the end of the seventies (Lene kosti, Pomaranča, Turbo), the thrash metal heyday in the eighties (Sarcasm, Železobeton, Funeral March, Xenophobia, Epidemic Zone) or the rise of grind (Extreme Smoke 57, Dickless Tracy) and black metal in the nineties. The biggest problem for Slovenian bands, sadly, has always been the very real chance of splitting up after a short time together. Plenty of groups, for whatever reasons, called it quits after just a few months. So only a handful of bands on our turf can boast ten or more years of uninterrupted activity. One of them is the Ljubljana outfit Sweet Sorrow, who started their journey in 1996 and just two years later had already put out their debut, Breaking the Silence. What’s more, despite a fair number of lineup changes, Sweet Sorrow can take pride in racking up serious live mileage and, maybe even more importantly, releasing albums pretty regularly. Now we’ve got the fourth one – 1000th Millenium!
Sweet Sorrow already hinted with 2006’s Northland that they were drawn toward melodic death metal tinged with Norse mythology and Viking themes. After a few vocalist changes, Marko Košmrlj settled into that spot, and during the recording of the album itself, Blaž Lončar replaced Jernej Vrečar on guitar. This rejuvenated, freshened-up crew locked themselves in Negligence Sound Solutions studio, and the opening track Skal is already strong proof that the new Sweet Sorrow lineup is probably the strongest in the band’s history and that the fresh blood has brought new energy to the group. With it, the guys raise their glasses high, and after a calm intro nicely woven together by guitars, bass and drums, they crash headfirst into a storm of a drunken Viking orgy. The record’s main hallmarks, right from the start, are melodic guitar lines, which in the more aggressive, faster parts are marked by relentless tremolo picking, along with lively drums and Marko Košmrlj’s raw vocals. Musically, 1000th Millenium is an incredibly fluid whole, with the energy of a band breathing as one coming through loud and clear. Lead guitarist Pero Carič has probably finally found an equal in Blaž Lončar, someone he can confidently trade riffs with and complement, and the excellent production adds its share, making the guitar sound massive, alive and crystal clear. The rhythm section does a great job of tearing down churches, and it’s especially Peter Gale’s drumming that thoroughly undermines the foundations of everything the Sweet Sorrow horde comes near. It’s great to hear that the drumming is really well thought out, whether it’s the varied, dynamic transitions or the dynamic use of cymbals and double bass, and the whole thing fits together fantastically, complementing the guitar riffs and bass lines, which, sadly, are a bit too low in the mix in places this time. We can’t get past Marko Košmrlj’s phenomenal vocals, because in him Sweet Sorrow have finally found the most fitting vocalist for their style of melodic death metal. With a brilliant, just-aggressive-enough and raw growl that’s still understandable and clear, Marko breathes life into the lyrics and leaves a strong mark on the album. The powerful choruses are deliberately emphasized with a deeper growl, while the ends of verses are occasionally reinforced with higher screams, and the best part is how well the vocals and instrumental parts weave together and connect. That’s exactly why it makes no sense to single out favorites or better and worse tracks on the record, since everyone will find their own, and the individual songs also hold up incredibly well on their own. 1000th Millenium is a record that is never going to get boring, as the switching between slower melodic parts and faster, harder, more brutal ones is extremely effective and backed up by well-considered vocal and instrumental arrangements.
With 1000th Millenium, Sweet Sorrow have without a doubt created the most mature album of their long career. The record is perhaps missing just a few more powerful riffs and better lyrics, which occasionally come off as too cliché, to be perfect, but the new Sweet Sorrow lineup breathes as one, and I have no doubt the guys will give us even more quality, crushing and dynamic melodic death metal in the future. And 1000th Millenium is best summed up by the uncompromising attitude expressed in its effective cover design – I Will Not Serve!
Lineup
Peter Carič – guitar
Peter Gale – drums
Marko Košmrlj – vocals
Ragnar Belial Us – bass guitar
Blaž Lončar – guitar
Production
Jan Švigelj and Žiga Zmazek
Tracklist
1. Skal
2. Another life
3. Gloria Transit
4. God of War
5. 1000th Millenium
6. Betrayals of Humanity
7. Twilight of the Gods
8. The Scarlet Whore
9. Metamorphosis
