Sanctum – “Let’s Eat ” – [Cold Meat Industry]

Max Level   1/7/2006   A Library, CD

As is the case with most releases on CMI, this is full of dark scary beauty. Sweden’s Sanctum have been quiet for 4 or 5 years, while main members J. Carleklev and H. Paulsson worked on other projects. Back in action, Sanctum delivers “Let’s Eat”, a work that relies less on the often baroque orchestral approach of their earlier work, and more on an industrial-based sound heavy on loud synthetic beats and samples. Lovely, subtle music is in there, but it’s layered among (and complimented by) some pretty harsh textures and beats. The female singer on their previous releases has departed, leaving the males to do most of the vocals in a gruff/hoarse style reminiscent of Godflesh. Track 4 features a female guest vocalist. On that track, the delicate vocals and piano are combined with an insistent rhythmic groan that adds a nice dark edge. This CD is superbly assembled and produced, and is a real feast for the ears.