Album Review: Sargeist – Flame Within Flame

Band: Sargeist
Album: Flame Within Flame
Label: World Terror Committee
Release date: May 28th, 2025
Country: Finland
Format reviewed: High quality digital recording

Album Review: Sargeist – Flame Within Flame via World Terror Committee by Ioana

Holy hell, this was unexpected. Having learned about this album merely one day before it got released was undoubtedly surprising, particularly since I’ve been wondering what the Finnish masters of darkness that Sargeist are had been up to since the release of their 2022 split. Leaving aside my complete ignorance on that matter, it was clear that great things were breing and it was just a matter of time before the gates of Hell would be once again opened. And that indeed happened when Flame Within Flame came out.

What first impressed me about this record is its dynamism and flow, a testament to their craft of course, while simultaneously being a grandious musical a display without relying too much on already existing tropes from previous releases. Another aspect that caught my eye right from the start was the album cover, which includes the photography of who I believe to be band mastermind Shatraug holding a flaming vessel decorated with miniature skulls. The image is nothing short of striking, impression that is obviously carried out in the music as well.

Spanning a little over 40 minutes and including nine tracks in total, Flame Within Flameoffers a strong dose of black metal that feels both aggressive and melodic. This is mainly due to the excellent guitar work, with many of the songs being based on rapidly changing riffs that exude creativity and a sense of profound inspiration. Flame Within Flameis just as rich when it comes to structural diversity, with many of the tracks including various tempo changes, atmospheric parts contrasting the more intense ones, and a sense of continuity that still leaves room for each song to shine.

Speaking of atmosphere, Flame Within Flamestands out without a doubt in that regard, aspect that is mainly a result of the excellent songwriting, but also of the musical maturity that this record exudes. From start to finish, the album exudes an aura of “tamed chaos”, so to say, and even if this can be considered a consequence of the musical dynamics, I can’t help but wonder whether it was more intentional than that. At least to me, a shift this noticeable in a band’s mood is an indicator of something going on in the artistic vision and I can’t help but feel like this record is meant to be some sort of closing, or perhaps opening piece for Sargeist’s future endeavours. What is this mystery sensation, you may ask? To put it simply, this record comes off as much more meditative, in an ominous sense, and this particular type of mood, in its process of clashing with the intricate instrumentals and delightfully expressive vocal performance, results in a bizarre feeling of acceptance, almost like a dying man accepting the inevitability of his fate. Another description I could offer is that of the man who accepts his incapacity for control over his destiny finally embracing the absurd nature of this existence. For those who may find these parallels too over the top, I don’t blame you, after all, what madman sits and dissects an album’s atmosphere to that extent? However, something leaves me believing that I’m not the only one engaging in this thought process. After all, Sargeist’s music has always been a breeding ground for ominous fantasies to grow and prosper.

I mentioned the vocal performance briefly in the previous paragraph, but I didn’t dive too much into it when I first brought it up. The reason behind that decision what that I wanted to discuss it separately, as I believe it is one aspect of this record that, in some cases, might be overlooked in comparison to the guitar work or even the drumming, and I don’t mean that as an attempt to discredit the importance of either instrument. The vocals are yet another area where that “tamed chaos” shows up once again, being the most visible in the technique itself. The screeches are there, as violent as ever, but they’re not as high pitched, floating around the middle register. This undoubtedly plays a role in the overall layout of the record, allowing the guitars to take center stage for most of the time, while also offering a poignant delivery of the lyrical content, where each word feels heavier than the last. It is the kind of performance that feels primordial, not unleashing its full power simply because it does not need to. Nothing here would indicate the weaknesses of the vocalist, doing quite the opposite actually. You can tell only from what you hear that you are dealing with a highly skilled performer, this album being a case of “less is more” in that regard.

Overall, Flame Within Flame, just as its title suggest, is not the kind of record that scorches everything in its wake. More than that, it enshrouds the listener in a burning garb that shines into infinity. It’s the record that made me gain an even deeper appreciation for Sargeist, and it will definitely make its way into my regular listen. Go check it out, soon you will too be wrapped by the limbs of the flames. 10/10

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