SARCASM has had a storied career. Originally formed in Sweden in 1987, SARCASM would release blistering death metal throughout the early and mid-90s. After a short-lived reunion in 1997, they would come back into the fold in 2015 with a new re-designed version of their lineup. They return with their new full-length album "Esoteric Tales of the Unserene".

SARCASM has this blend of old-school meets newer death metal. Although, they clearly have their ties in being an older death metal band, their sound still brings with it the youthful exuberance of newer death metal bands. They have this almost blackened style of death metal that cuts like a knife. The impressive guitar work is highlighted by the brutal blast beats and vile vocals emanating in every track. "Vortex of the Vultures" kicks off the album in a purely tech death style. What I truly love is how the instrumentation comes in so clearly, nothing is drowning one or the other out. A surprising factor to their music is the slowing down of the tempo to offer up a more melodic sound. This is the newer death metal sound that I am hearing from this album.

A lot of times the old-school death metal bands seem to be stuck in their ways, but SARCASM has implemented the more melodic sound to their brutal repertoire.  I can appreciate the vile black metal styled vocals on the album, as they work so well together with the professional sounding musicianship. I was expecting to hear a kind of prototypical old-school sounding death metal band when the album started. I was pleasantly surprised by the different styles implemented. "Parochial Past Resonates" shows off this differing style. The track begins and ends in brutal fashion, but there is the middle of the track that intrigues me most. The melody slows down and showcases some impressive guitar soloing. This melodic style is not indicative of the old-school death metal sound. I truly appreciate when death metal bands aren't one dimensional. I would argue that SARCASM could even be seen mostly as a melodic death metal band. Their style surely suggests that. The acoustic melody in "Flesh Was Carved Out From Seven Faces of God". That track title just slips right off the tongue doesn't it? (I digress).

The angelic backing vocals are also a very nice touch. SARCASM seems to have a style all their own. Take black metal, melodic, and death metal and blend it all up then you'll have "Esoteric Tales of the Unserene".  The music is beautiful, vile, and brutal all in the same. There is a lot of musical tones to process in the album. It is not just standard run-of-the-mill death metal. There is some piano work and even eerie atmospheric sounds brought in "Revolution of Consciousness". This is the higher level of musicianship I can appreciate in death metal. SARCASM even brings in the thrash metal heat in "Realm of Shadowless Existence". If there was a track to absolutely go nuts in the pit for, this would be it.

"Esoteric Tales of the Unserene" is a triumphantly diverse death metal album that brings a complete and competent sound. The melodic beauty and absolutely head destroying brutality coexist in perfect harmony. I was utterly surprised from the start of the album, to the finish. SARCASM deliver on every facet musically. Go bang your head to this one.