Sarcator – Swarming Angels & Flies (Review)

Sarcator are a Swedish thrash metal band and this is their third album.

Sarcator play a black/death-influenced style of thrash metal, and Swarming Angels & Flies contains 44 minutes of material. Think of a blend of early-period old-school metal in the form of bands such as Kreator, Sarcófago, Sodom, and Morbid Angel, and then blend this with more contemporary acts like Hellripper, Devastator, and Midnight, and you’ll be on the right lines. You can throw in some other refences too at various points, but ultimately, despite the ancient style that underpins this album, it’s remarkably fun and fresh sounding.

Genres were much more fluid in the 80s, and Sarcator have learned their lessons well from this era. Raw old-school thrash metal underpins everything here, but the material is not limited to that. Elements of black, death, and heavy metal can all be heard in places, all contributing to Sarcator’s melting pot of extreme metal.

Although I like blackthrash, it’s a style I typically tire of quite quickly, as it’s easy to sound generic. Sarcator blatantly operate in blackthrash territories, but their music is simply better than most, and also has a touch more wider vision. I like that Swarming Angels & Flies reminds me of classic thrash metal bands, while also merging the hostile side of those early acts with black and death metal’s extremity. It is dark, aggressive, and passionate. Importantly, it’s packed with fun, killer songs that have plenty of meat on them to satisfy.

Sarcator’s music is sharp and intense, and the songs are catchy and memorable. The material is imbued with a keen sense of energy and dynamics, and loaded with attitude and aggression. The band peel off razor riffs with ease, and slice with fiery solos and harsh serrated screams. Sarcator walk a line between brutality and melody, allowing them to reap the benefits from both.

The band’s enthusiasm is infectious. They attack their material like it is the last thing they will ever do. The songs are professionally delivered though, and there’s also more variety on offer than your typical band of this ilk manages. As just two examples; Where the Void Begins – the album’s longest cut – presents us with slower and more atmospheric version of Sarcator, while instrumental song Closure really allows the band to showcase their heavy metal, classic rock, and post-punk influences.

Swarming Angels & Flies is an accomplished album that’s really enjoyable. Sarcator have a talent for their chosen musical medium, and these songs are high quality examples of using old influences to forge something that is worth spending time with in 2025.

If this sort of style speaks to you, then this is a mandatory listen.