My first introduction to Sammath came in ‘Dodengang’ and I don’t know if that is a good experience to talk about. I think not! I remember hating that album for it is ‘too loud’ for my quiet taste! Not that I dislike loud albums but this ‘loudness war’ just makes me sick! So okay, one of the staff forwarded this pack to me and played it skeptically and to my surprise - it was good! No non-sense intros, etc, all that gay stuff that starts an album is stupid if you ask me. Triumph in Hatred starts the album in real music which is a pure bonus for a bored reviewer like me.

Going further with the review… first, I’ve liked the production this time around. At least it contains a few ‘dynamics’. Thanks to the lead guitars that saved this band (or this album). Yes, the noticeable lead solos were… dare I say, awesome. Although I got to say that these solos went overboard! Too many solos! Too many sweep picking that this kind of music is not in need of. How can you really blend these kind of sweeps with a vocal that sounds like a poorman’s Abbath is beyond me! Afterall, the production alone is a big improvement. I’m not talking about sweet sounding productions that’ll make you sleep. Expect nothing here but a harsh sound that is really suited for this kind of music, and by that, I mean: great production! I’m not talking about harsh productions that’s been recorded in an abandoned church or cellars with zombies in them or… well, insert your own bestial gimmicks here: ____________, period!

Next, I’ll go with the songs. I think Sammath hasn’t changed their music then. The boring norsecore vibe is still highly present, but this is one of those that what I call “Norsecore done right”. Way better listening to all of the worthless/talentless fago-releases coming out like mushrooms and feces in the so-called underground nowadays! The atmosphere of the songs were so good, it creeps on me, hah! And eventhough I’m not the one handling the video conversions here, I say that the video link given to me contains my favorite track off this album too. I think this song is a milestone from ‘Dodengang’, but you should hear that yourself!

My beef with this album is the fast/blasting parts. I mean, come on, we’re not kids to be enjoying these oh so tedious blasts all the time! We’re too old for these jokes! We want to hear real songs! Real riffs! Take for example the slow parts of this video below! I also think that all of the blasts bands out there would only come out good if you’re tired of listening to worthless junks like Xasthur, etc, if you see what I mean. Overall, it’s a good album. The artwork reminds me of this commercialized Death Metal band, but this time it’s real artwork. Not some random photographs with douches lying inside a coffin. Get this…

TRACKLIST
1. Blood
2. Burn in the Fires of Hell
3. Interlude/Torment
4. Damnation
5. Blazing Storm of Steel
6. Triumph in Hatred
7. The Dead Lay Torn

Label: Folter Records
Release Date: November 30th 2009
Timespan: 40.52
Genre: Black Metal

BAND CONTACT
www.sammath.nl
www.myspace.com/sammath666

SAMMATH - Triumph in Hatred : 8/10