Den Saakaldte is Mikael Sykelig and his dream team. With all the bands connected to the four band members you could organize a pretty solid Black metal festival. Lemme drop a few: Gorgoroth, Naer Mataron, Ondskapt, Skitliv, Bethlehem, Shining, 1349, Dødheimsgard, Green Carnation, Carpathian Forest et ceteraaaaaaa... honestly, there are more, but I think I made my point already. Den Saakaldte's purpose seems to be to deliver dark and unorthodox Black metal and they certainly managed to do just that. Øl, Mørke Og Depresjon is their first demo and a sign of things to come.

On 'Beer, Darkness and Depression', a few elements just jump out. Numero Uno: the jazzy trumpets and saxophone. Numero Dos: the strange ambient interludes. I don't know the Spanish word for 'three', but anyway, Numero Three is: the gruff, gritty atmosphere. This vibe can be accredited to the vivid, lively riffs and Kvarforth's energetic and varied performance. He shrieks, moans, groans, sings and yells his way through the album. He really gives everything he has here and makes the album worth a listen for his voice alone. Coupled with the aforementioned lively riffs, often reminiscent of a Heavy metal version of Shining, it gives the album what it needs to grab your full attention.

But back to numero uno: the jazzy parts. They're bound to surprise you the first you hear them and it is definitely a brave idea to include them, but personally I'd have like them to have an even bigger part in the music. Right now they're just something on the side, although I can imagine Mikael doing that on purpose, otherwise Den Saakaldte risks turning into 'that gimmicky Sax Black band'. Fact is they work well and give the album a cool 'whiskey-drunk melancholic debauchery'- edge and I'm satisfied with that.

Øl, Mørke Og Depresjon is not perfect but it's a breath of fresh air, that's for sure. I'm incredibly late with this review and their debut album All Hail Pessisism has already been released quite some time ago. I personally cannot wait to check it.

Read this article on the author's website: Metalstorm.
More info on Den Saakaldte and on Ol, Morke Og Depresjon or browse the press archive for more articles.