American Black Metal, it's not really something you'll see too much of on my playlist. Not that I dislike it, but let's face it Norway, Sweden, and Finland certainly have the edge.  And why not, Black Metal has it's roots in the Nordic countries. SARCOPTES is a nifty little outfit hailing from Sacramento California. Yes, strait from Hippie land. Which is amusing considering that they are named after sarcoptes scabiei which is the mite responsible for the sti Scabies. I guess with all that free love promiscuity Scabies was prominent enough to name their band after. Or maybe that was completely discriminatory and out of line. Either way, it's pretty fucking hilarious.

So, with the assholish jokes aside, Songs and Dances of Death had me hooked not only with the titles, but also the artwork. So I had to delve right in. This is definitely a black metal outfit. I'm not going to tell you that it sounds like every other Black Metal album out there, but still is refined by the generalized standard set for the genre. I could certainly hear similarities with bands such as VESANIA, definitely showing influence from the likes of classic CRADLE OF FILTH and other old skool greats.

The album has pretty good production value. Every song is a melodically brutal experience. The two fellows behind the group seem to be quite talented and have a firm grasp on their art. Some of the guitar riffs are seriously bad ass, with some pretty righteous drum work to back it up. It's actually kind of hard to believe that it's a two person project. That really makes me curious to hear their demo, since there are several past member listed. I mean if two guys can pull off the shit that I hear on this album, then a whole line up should be mind blowing.

So, anyone with an ear for Black Metal should check these guys out. They are not a disappointment, oh quite the contrary. This is a band that has a hell of a lot of potential. As they progress, I can see these guys taking it to a whole other level. Kudos you guys, keep giving 'em hell.