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Powerwolf didn't change its winning formula with seventh studio record The Sacrament of Sin. Mid-paced melodic European power metal meets sacral orchestrations and tongue-in-cheek lyrics about the Catholic Church, werewolves and sexual innuendo.
The brilliant opener "Fire and Forgive" comes around with an atmospheric overture including chiming bells and domineering keyboard sounds before powerful riffs, vibrant vocals and a steady rhythm section lead toward an incredibly catchy chorus. Powerwolf's greatest strength is to manage to write quite memorable songs with clear structures within four minutes that are made to be sung by huge crowds. The slightly more sinister "Killers with the Cross", the folk-driven "Incense and Iron" as well as melodic heavy metal closer "Fist by Fist (Sacralize or Strike)" all sound somewhat familiar in approach but are very efficient nonetheless.
Before things get too predictable, repetitive and stereotypical, Powerwolf come around with a few minimal experiments in this record's intriguing middle section. "Where the Wild Wolves Have Gone" is an epic power ballad that convinces with melodic keyboard arrangements and raw but melodic vocals. The experiment is very successful and here is hope to hearing similar songs in the future. The atmospheric "Stoßgebet" is the most amusing track on the album with tongue-in-cheek lyrics in Latin of doubtful quality and German that essentially talk about a priest having sexual intercourse with a woman. "Nightside of Siberia" on the other side has a cinematic note and manages to sound even more diversified, dramatic and epic than the rest. If there is ever going to be a movie about werewolves in Russia, this has to be its title track.
Another element that needs to be pointed out regarding a band with such an important lyrical, musical and visual concept as Powerwolf is the brilliant colourful cover artwork that summarizes everything the band stands for. The booklet is even more diverisfied as every individual song is represented by a specific artwork by Zsofia Dankova who did an outstanding job. Purchasing the limited physical edition of this release offers even more value for money. It comes around with a stylish key chain and a generous bonus disc that underlines Powerful's enormous popularity in Germany but also abroad. Ten different bands have covered ten specific Powerwolf songs, including a very playful rendition of "Sacred and Wild" by Epica, a raw medieval metal Interpretation of "We Drink Your Blood" by Saltatio Mortis and a shot of Celtic atmosphere in Eluveitie's elaborate take on "Nata Vimpi Cvrmid / Ira Sancti (When the Saints Are Going Wild)" to only name three great examples.
In the end, Powerwolf's seventh studio record The Sacrament of Sin will please fans of the band and make those who dislike the group's concept cringe as usual. If you haven't purchased a Powerwolf record yet, you might as well start here as The Sacrament of Sin represents everything this band stands for. The band didn't change its winning formula but avoided repeating itself too much thanks to a slightly more adventurous middle section, brilliant and precise song writing and a wonderful package with great bonus disc, stunning cover artwork and detailed booklets. Powerwolf hasn't delivered the best album of the year but certainly one of the most accessible, catchy and entertaining releases in recent memory.
Final rating: 80%
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Five years ago, Atrocity launched the first part of its Okkult album trilogy. The versatile band adopted an epic symphonic death metal style for the first release. The booklet of the limited edition included hints at an international treasure hunt as the band planned to hide records with unreleased song material at different locations. Over the past few years, Atrocity receded into the background. The second part of trilogy seemed to be delayed in favor of new symphonic folk metal material by Leaves' Eyes. There were no news whatsoever of the treasure hunt and I was afraid that the trilogy that had started so promisingly would be canceled. But Atrocity is more reliable than Manowar and the likes and has now released the second part of the trilogy that had been preceeded by an extended play last year. The four songs of said extended play are also included in sometimes slightly different versions on this album. Seven tracks are completely new and one also gets a wonderful cover artwork and booklet and a limited edition with an unnecessary instrumental bonus disc when most fans would have actually prefered some live material.
Stylistically, Atrocity goes even further back to its roots than on the predecessor. The symphonic elements and choirs have been reduced and are only included occasionally to back up choruses and support transitional bridges. The German quartet rather focuses on powerful death metal with sinsiter and expressive harsh vocals, fast but skilled drum patterns, powerful and pumping bass tones and heavy riffs finding the balance between at times simplistic passages and a few more technical aspects. The record is well-produced and sounds much more coherent than most Atrocity records released since the band's early years. However, the tracks become more memorable when the band includes minor experiments in form of more mid-paced chugging riffs, a few harmonious guitar solos, extended atmospheric breaks, German lyrics or guest vocalists like Marc Grewe of former Morgoth fame in "Gates to Oblivion" or Entombed A.D.'s Lars-Göran Petrov in "Devil's Covenant".
In the end, Okkult II is a great record if you like death metal with a melodic and atmospheric touch. However, one can't categorize this album as melodic death metal or symphonic death metal like parts of the predecessor. Atrocity goes back to the roots without repeating itself. The record's biggest strength is its consistency without any fillers. Its only weakness is that it doesn't have too many memorable or outstanding passages. My favorite songs are the dynamic, epic and orchestral "Bloodshed and Triumph", the sacral and chugging "Gates to Oblivion" as well as the atmospheric and narrative yet brutal and sinsiter "Infernal Sabbath" to only name three very good songs. Any death metal fan can give this release a spin without hesitation as it isn't necessary to be familiar with the first part of the trilogy to enjoy Okkult II.
Final rating: 80%
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