Given Candlelight's steady track record of nu/metalcore crapola, it's refreshing to hear a band come from the label that doesn't sound like all the others. Maybe they finally took all the criticisms the Peacedog camp was directing at them to heart. (Probably not…)

Norway's SAHG is made up of veterans from GORGOROTH, MANNGARD, and AUDREY HORNE, so it's a pretty safe bet going in that the results of this collaboration will be halfway decent. Well, SAHG I is more than halfway decent, it's pretty damn good! The end product is not as clichéd as you would expect given the band's background. The production is really distinct, giving the album an atmosphere that really sets it apart from the pack. It also doesn't hurt that vocalist Olav has a great voice, somehow falling somewhere between QUEENSRYCHE's Geoff Tate and former CORROSION OF CONFORMITY frontman Karl Agell.

Highlights of the disc are many and varied. "Repent" is 7+ minutes of dirge, complete with moody acoustic guitar interludes and cool vocal effects. Overall, the song comes close to sounding like ALICE IN CHAINS at their darkest/best. Hopefully, the troo metal stalwarts will make it through this track; because they will no-doubt appreciate what awaits them. "The Executioner Undead" is a killer, with its dual guitar harmonies, all set upon a foundation of distorted bass to give it that extra air of menace. The Tony Iommi style acoustic guitar interlude of "Whisper of Abaddon" is a nice touch, setting the tone and mood for the following track, "Godless Faith," perfectly. Bassist King steals the show in "Soul Exile," as the guitar drops out on the verses giving him the spotlight to really lay it down under the vocals.

Hopefully, the release of SAHG I is a harbinger of what's on the horizon for Candlelight USA's output as a label. We can always use another label that caters to the metal scene as a whole, instead of just the bottom-feeding, shopping mall-dwelling cookie monsters of the world. Until then, we can always hope for a SAHG II.

- Broadbent

OFFICIAL SITE: www.sahgweb.com

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