With their second full-length release, “Sarkomand”, Ctulu demonstrates their musical professionalism and that the band means “serious business”. “Sarkomand” is in many ways a progression from their first full-length “Freie Geister” (2008), both in terms of music and sound quality. Released via Godeater Records it will definitely please most extreme metal fans and not only black metal followers. Whatever your preference, you will undeniably find something to headbang to during this epic 47 minute album.

My first impression of “Sarkomand” is that it is one of the most melodic extreme metal albums that I have listened to. Although I am not a huge follower of the contemporary melodic death or black metal scenes, this release is different in many ways from what one would expect from modern extreme melodic metal. The album is filled with various guitar melodies and one can pick that up from the very first riff of the opening track “Arckanum Der Tiefen”. Nevertheless, this melodic approach is sustained throughout the album coupled with blast beating tracks like “Windschreiter” or “Sarkomand”. It is through tracks like “Blindes Chaos” or “Mondsucht”, however, that Ctulu manages to combine fast-paced black metal tracks with awesome slower, mid-tempo melodies. The longest and the closing track on this album, “Mondsucht” opens up with a piano playing an atmospheric intro with some ambient sounds such as rain and thunder in the background, which later goes on to descend into the trademark harmonious chaos known as Ctulu. What is more significant for me in “Mondsucht” is how the band can gradually change from distortion to a more acoustic clean sound with clean vocals and then back again to that skull-crushing black metal without sounding cheesy.

While the closing track has a combination of Ctulu’s musical abilities, “Nachtwind” is the most atmospheric one and is also the slowest track of the album. What is also worth mentioning is the band’s capability to change rhythms successfully as the tracks progress. These changes and breakdowns make it a very enjoyable and interesting album as they cause the listener to keep on listening to discover what is going to be played next without boring him/her. Nevertheless, one cannot underestimate Rolf’s clear, but at the same time “brutal”, vocals which enable the listener to understand what he is singing about. What further adds to this enjoyable listening experience is Jan’s drumming which is basically the foundation of the “extremity” of this band with his accurate blast beats and fast drumming. Moreover, the way he plays the cymbals gives the music a more “fruitful” sound. Finally, as is emphasised throughout this review the axe men’s, Mathias and Arne, melodic approach is evident throughout “Sarkomand” and, thus, their tunes could be labelled “seastorming extreme guitar melodies” as the band calls itself “Seastorming Extreme Metal”.

“Mondsucht” closes the album with a guitar melody similar to how the piano melody begins that track and leaves the listener dumbfounded and wanting more. Extreme metal fans, metalheads, music lovers do yourself a favour and purchase this album – trust me, you will not be disappointed.

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