Sarcofagus
Envoy of Death

Tired of the usual musical trends and what today is peddled as innovative? No problem, the past is always there to offer us forgotten gems.

In this case, we're talking about a Finnish band, little known and quite unfortunate.

Sarcofagus formed in the late '70s and dutifully absorbed the lessons of masters like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. To this, they added an enviable energy, derived from the then-burgeoning New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. To be honest, there are also some influences that call to mind Pentagram's good old Bobby Liebling.

In short: Hard-Heavy on the verge of Doom.

Something similar to what the Albion-based Witchfinder General proposed, but with one substantial difference: here, certain themes are not approached with a playful spirit. Here, it talks about death and how it was understood in the times of the ancient Egyptians.

An energetic and genuine sound but also dark and sinister. Especially in the finale "Black Contract," a hallucinatory journey into the depths of darkness lasting a full 9 minutes.

"Envoy Of Death," released in 1980, may not be the pinnacle of originality (you'll have to wait for Vitus and Trouble to hear truly spectral and slow-motion metal) but it presents us with a very respectable band.

Not recommended for those who seek '80s pop but recommended, on the other hand, for those who grew up with Hard and Heavy.

Note that this is not the debut of the Finnish combo but their second studio release. Apart from this negligible note, evaluate for yourself whether such a work can be appreciated or not. I, certainly, listen to it often and willingly. Thumbs up for our Finnish heroes!