SARKASM is a Canadian Death Metal band that has been reborn at least three times. First emerging as TRAUMATISM in 1990, then resurfacing a decade later in 1990 as SARCASM, and next reforming in 2019 with a hard ‘k.’ Regardless of spelling, SARKASM has created a fine metal artifact with Carnival of Atrocities due to be released on February 4, 2025 via Xtreem Music and promoted by Imperative PR.  

Like the burning carnage depicted on the cover, Carnival of Atrocities leaves nothing but scorched earth in its wake. The cover art, in fact, seems to be a recurring commentary from the band on humanity’s failure as stewards of the planet—the band’s 2023 As Empires Decay also boasted imagery of a city laid to waste. The dark socio-enviro commentary syncs well with band’s overall style which fuses Death and Thrash.

Carnival of Atrocities clocks in at 36 minutes with eight tracks. In case you’re wondering, there are no acoustic interludes or atmospheric intros or outros. Just 36 minutes of blistering extreme metal. Standout tracks include “Dead Weight,” nasty, thrashy, a total mosh grinder; “Murmurs from the Void” with a lethal drop right at mid-track; and “Cold Empty Rooms” for its haunting lead solo. For those that need more anger in their Death and Thrash there’s “Hateful, Spiteful, Vengeful” which pretty much sums up the aesthetic of any good extreme metal band; for those that might need their metal down-tuned to doom proportions, there’s “Ex Umbris.” And technical? You can find evidence of a propensity for higher mathematics throughout the album on almost every track. So, something for every extreme metalhead with this album. If you’re looking for Synth or Atmospheric, sorry, wrong stop.  

Carnival of Atrocities is well produced, well written, well executed. Hopefully the third time around is the charm for SARKASM. With their twin attacks of As Empires Decay and Carnival of Atrocities, they seem to be on a solid trajectory.