by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
Following up the mammoth release The Crowning of the Fire King is the new Sorcerer studio effort, Lamenting of the Innocent. It would have been damn near impossible to top their previous effort by any measurement, and while still better than almost anything you’ll hear in Heavy Metal this year, Lamenting of the Innocent keeps the momentum but doesn’t necessarily build off of it.
As always, the artwork is impeccable. It’s not often today you see well thought out, symbolic true art as the cover, but Sorcerer never sells you short.
Artwork aside, it’s about the music, and damn if the album doesn’t begin with an unsympathetic, monotonous musical interlude. Foreboding but skippable. “The Hammer of Witches” is the first song with lyrics and vocals, and it’s closer to Heavy Metal than Doom, especially on the shouting gang chorus and ripping leads. It’s faster, heavier than what we’ve come to expect, but no other band sounds like Sorcerer, so it’s more than worthy.
“The Lamenting of the Innocent” has a 36-second wind-laden start, which is irritating, but give it a chance. This is the Doom you want … you need … you breathe. It has everything from lush, and then soaring and emotional vocals to churning riffs and a heart-palpitating darkness. As the third song on the album, this is the highlight. Nothing else touches it … and you’ve got a ways to go.
You’ve got to give the gents a nod for their creativity. The song, “Where Spirits Die” is the death double-down. Their titles alone speak to an intellectual curiosity you don’t get from other genres, or bands, unless you are into 10-word Cattle Decapitation titles.
“Deliverance” is a duet, with Candlemass singer Johan Längquist. You have to be at your best to share the spotlight with a singer with Candlemass under his belt, but in this case, Anders Engberg outshines him. It’s a slower dirge, melodic and acoustic, haunting and like many tracks, almost the best on Lamenting of the Innocent.
By this time, you know they are going to fling the last bit of dirt on the album’s coffin with an overwhelming musical and emotional journey, almost like watching a fantasy movie, and yes, some of the musical passages are perfect for a gothic horror movie. “Path to Perdition” is not a warm fuzzy, but instead, it’s the welcome track to Hell. Closing out the album with this flawless composition more than makes up for the clumsy earnestness of how it opens.
Really, it’s Sorcerer, so it’s always a must-have. On their worst day they are still one of the best bands in the world. Lamenting of the Innocent does not top The Crowning of the Fire King, but then again, it’d be tough to name an album by any band in the last 10 years that could.
Genre: Metal, Doom
Band:
Anders Engberg: Vocals
Kristian Niemann: Guitars
Peter Hallgren: Guitars
Justin Biggs: Bass
Richard Evensand: Drums
Tracklisting:
01. Persecution (Intro)
02. The Hammer of Witches
03. Lamenting of the Innocent
04. Institoris
05. Where Spirits Die
06. Deliverance
07. Age of the Damned
08. Condemned
09. Dance with the Devil
10. Path to Perdition
Label: Metal Blade
Online:
www.facebook.com/sorcererdoom
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.6 / 10)
