Dutch black metal band Sammath has released their fourth album upon the world, aptly titled ‘Triumph in Hatred’. If you have not heard their previous record, ‘Dodengang’, I advise you to click to a nearby webstore and get it. Why? Because that was a piece of uncompromising black metal riffing filled with aggression, atmosphere, power and very interesting song writing. But wait, you might wanna read further, because when you order ‘Dodengang’, you should not skip their latest release.

The first track on ‘Triumph in Hatred’, “Blood”, sounds as if I just put on ‘Dodengang’ part two. It has the same guitar sound, the gritty Abbath-like vocals, and that infernal speed drumming of Koos Bos. But after the first minute there slips something into this mix that I have never heard before in a black metal song this vile: A guitar solo. And not just a flimsy thing anyone could have played. For almost a full minute guitar player Magnus Agliareth makes sure no one misses his entry. His solos are lush, but never overdone. At times, his solos pop up to disappear just as easily, without having influenced the power or hate that Sammath’s music breathes. As far as I am concerned, Sammath scores points on originality again without losing their highly aggressive touch.

As ‘Dodengang’ gained a lot of attention, not to say the least in the US, I have a hunch that ‘Triumph in Hatred’ will do so even more. The intro melody of a song like “Interlude Torment” could just as easily be on the last Blut Aus Nord release and the whole song shows that Sammath keeps on growing into territory not yet pioneered by others this extensively. This album can sound claustrophobic, making you grasp for air, and at the same time lets you reach for the sky at all those beautiful asphyxiation colours that pop-up in sight. But when Sammath grants you air, all you want to do is punch the first guy you see in the face. ‘Triumph in Hatred’ is, like its predecessor, aggressive, atmospheric and powerful, with its own unique touch to it. Just as good black metal is supposed to be.