Album Review: Sørgelig – Φθορά (Tragedy Productions)

Three years since Sørgelig unleashed the fiercely intense Slaves of Tomorrow EP, the Greek iconoclasts, dissident dream eaters, have returned, with an new full length album, ‘Φθορά’. Out on October 4th, 2024, via Tragedy Productions.

With a cacophony of howling voices, this new Sørgelig album arrives in garish style. Then, as if it wasn’t already overwhelming enough, the instruments arrive and what we have is the icy cold sound of black metal being poured directly into the mind. Sørgelig might be from Greece, but they come via Norway and the like. Breed of Waste, this album’s opener is ugly and harsh, but there is an appealing underbelly to it also.

Which is what drives you to listen on, experiencing the absurd savagery of Libation of Blood, but finding a more riff-driven piece too. This is more than just a clattering of dissonant instruments and vocal horror, something further exemplified by a deeper layer of evil that can be found within Αποσύνθεση. This is the kind of cold that speaks of worlds long lost, empty and desolate, there is a strong scent of sadness in the air.

A theme that only grows in stature as the album goes on. Those of the Depths really adding so much gloomy weight to this side of Sørgelig. A side that ultimately makes them and this album stand out. Sure, as far as a maelstrom of blackness goes, it impresses but with the layers of abject misery as found on that track and the following …Of Wrath and Pyre, it becomes even more of a remarkable experience.

A wave of focused black metal fury comes next in the form of Inexorable Grey leaving the listener gasping for breath. Before the title track has Sørgelig lean even more into the sound of wicked misery. The desolate feel that this track leaves within you might be too much for some, even if it is so different to anything else on the album.

Thankfully for those folks, it’s over now as Dreamscapes of Lethe arrives to create mind-bending agony in one last hefty showcase of blackened melancholic power. A gargantuan finale that aims to punish and reward those who made it this far in equal measure. You’ll feel this one in the pit of your soul.

Sørgelig – Φθορά Track Listing:

1. Breed of Waste
2. Libation of Blood
3. Αποσύνθεση
4. Those of the Depths
5. …Of Wrath and Pyre
6. Inexorable Grey
7. Φθορά
8. Dreamscapes of Lethe

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Tragedy Productions