Sakkuth Quest From Within & Dont Fight The Urge
Self released 2000 & 2002
By Russell Garwood
Sakkuth are an Australian melodic death group, who have built up quite an impressive live reputation since their formation in 1998. Their music, while melodic, still packs quite a punch, with heavy drums and regular forays into shredding, start/stop riffage and crushing breakdowns. The drums of Damien Biggers become increasingly triggered between these two releases, while the other instruments tend to maintain their sound. The mid-range growling of Moises Contreras strays little from the effective established standard, while guitars from Adam Merker and Scott McIvor make use of dual melodies throughout. The bass of Vaughan Piffero tends to be further back in the mix.
"Quest From Within", the bands debut full length, is a powerful, effective release. Slightly rawer production suits the music well, and the mixing is balanced, at least compared to "Dont Fight The Urge". The well-structured, fast-paced songs fly by, while instrumental, "Shut Your Eyes" and closing track "Happiness So Forgotten" - a slower song with clean vocals - provide valuable diversity in what is otherwise a sound limited in variation.
A short release, "Dont Fight The Urge" continues in a similar vein cleaner production is ruined by the mixing, which can at times detract from the music. Most of the time the guitars feel too far back in the mix, drowning beneath the other instrumentation, but when a solo starts they are brought so far forward almost every other layer becomes inaudible. Increased use of samples and sounds are an interesting addition, and overall this is a good release, marred only by the recording.
Sakkuth are clearly competent musicians, and these two demos show improving song-writing skills and a changing sound. With better production values and time it seems likely the band can make some impact on what has become a saturated genre, and I look forward to hearing further work.
Self released 2000 & 2002
By Russell Garwood
Sakkuth are an Australian melodic death group, who have built up quite an impressive live reputation since their formation in 1998. Their music, while melodic, still packs quite a punch, with heavy drums and regular forays into shredding, start/stop riffage and crushing breakdowns. The drums of Damien Biggers become increasingly triggered between these two releases, while the other instruments tend to maintain their sound. The mid-range growling of Moises Contreras strays little from the effective established standard, while guitars from Adam Merker and Scott McIvor make use of dual melodies throughout. The bass of Vaughan Piffero tends to be further back in the mix.
"Quest From Within", the bands debut full length, is a powerful, effective release. Slightly rawer production suits the music well, and the mixing is balanced, at least compared to "Dont Fight The Urge". The well-structured, fast-paced songs fly by, while instrumental, "Shut Your Eyes" and closing track "Happiness So Forgotten" - a slower song with clean vocals - provide valuable diversity in what is otherwise a sound limited in variation.
A short release, "Dont Fight The Urge" continues in a similar vein cleaner production is ruined by the mixing, which can at times detract from the music. Most of the time the guitars feel too far back in the mix, drowning beneath the other instrumentation, but when a solo starts they are brought so far forward almost every other layer becomes inaudible. Increased use of samples and sounds are an interesting addition, and overall this is a good release, marred only by the recording.
Sakkuth are clearly competent musicians, and these two demos show improving song-writing skills and a changing sound. With better production values and time it seems likely the band can make some impact on what has become a saturated genre, and I look forward to hearing further work.
