Sacram - Far Away (Demo)
Self-financed

file under Death metal / Grindcore

Ramon: It is not a rare statement to say your main influences have been At the Gates, Anathema, Pink Floyd, Dark Tranquility and Death. It becomes rare when a band actually manages to stir all those influences in just four songs. I miss a few, though. If you would have told me that Danny Cavanagh and Dave Murray worked along with these guys, I would have believed you, without a single doubt. The sound, not necessarily the production, takes you back to Anathema’s golden years and at times it is so fluent and balanced, that it reminds me of Iron Maiden’s ‘Somewhere In Time’. Maybe not consistently, but then again, who ever is?

The first track ‘Despair’ is an up-tempo song. Probably to prove that they can do that too. But the Silent Enigmatic intro, including fretless bass slides, is a shame to lay aside with metallic standards. Not that it’s bad, but the sphere is taken away too rapidly. At least in my opinion. But the Other three songs, of which ‘Everything Splinters’ is my favorite by far, are a very neat display of timeless and well balanced progressive death metal, the way the early doom bands did it. Slightly more pace every now and then. Pleasantly more. The vocals is where the At the Gates influences come in. A bit standard in timing, but passionate enough to grant forgiveness.

“The Depths of Athens”, well, well, well. I visualize way too quickly for descriptions like that. If there’s one thing the Greek are known for, then it is something you don’t want to associate the word ”depth” with as a metal band. Not that I really care, but it is something worth weighing, when you write things down in official publications. Anyhow, Athens Greece is where this band is from. It is safe to say that after Rotting Christ, we have another potential breakthrough name from Greece. They might even get further than their fellow countrymen. The melodramatic and enchanting guitar lines, are of a very high level. And not just raged through a five and dime pedal. The sound is as said before brilliant. A true raw gothic feeling without obligatory female vocals or even keyboards. Absolutely brilliant. Especially considering the fact that ‘Far Away’ is self-financed. It fits the identity of Sacram just right. Guitar player John, who founded this band, can be considered as visionary writer. He makes no secret out of the fact that all the songs are rehearsed over and over again, so that Sacram could bring out a live experience to be proud of. I never saw them live, yet I can say that Greece has something to be proud of. Bring on the full-length album

Rating: 88/100 (details)

http://www.myspace.com/sacrammusic