Sahg - Sahg II

Made up of members from Gorgoroth, Audrey Horne and Manngard, this is the second CD from the Norwegian band Sahg. They had quite a time recording this album, having to switch studios after a few songs were completed because the landlord decided to tear the studio down. They found somewhere else to go and completed the album.

Sahg II is more ambitious than their debut, as the band explores more influences. Those influences are classic, with groups like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin coming quickly to mind. Their doom metal sound ranges from fast, retro sounding groovers to more plodding and psychedelic crushers. They even throw in an acoustic track. Fuzzy, trippy and heavy, Sahg does a nice job changing up the styles and tempos.

Olav Iversen is Sahg's vocalist, and has a versatile voice. He has a good range and a decent amount of power. His voice is effective cutting through the fuzz on some tracks, and blending right in with lots of effects on others. When it comes to doom/stoner metal, Norway isn't the first place you'd look, but Sahg II may change that.

(released March 18, 2008 on Regain Records)