SAD | Fullmoon's Bestial Awakening | Purity Through Fire

 

Release Date: October 31, 2025

Format: CD/A5 Digipack/Vinyl

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Greece

SAD formed in Greece in 2005 and have built a long and intense legacy in the underground black metal scene. Driven by the duo of Ungod (music, arrangements, instruments) and Nadir (lyrics, vocals), the band has released a steady stream of albums, splits, and collaborations through respected labels such as Drakkar, Obscure Abhorrence, and Old Temple. Since joining forces with Purity Through Fire in 2020, SAD has remained consistent in delivering music that honors the raw, primal essence of true black metal. Their ninth album, “Fullmoon’s Bestial Awakening,” continues that dedication, following 2023’s “Black Metal Craft”.

 “Fullmoon’s Bestial Awakening” is a fierce reminder of why SAD has lasted two decades in the abyss. It’s unflinching, cold, and soaked in the kind of dark energy that only experience can command. The album channels the pure spirit of late ’90s black metal, echoing the grimness of labels like Sombre Records and Drakkar, while maintaining the harsh honesty that has always defined the band.

Ungod’s instrumentation dominates like a one-man storm. The riffs move from raw speed to more majestic passages with natural flow, charging the music with narrative spirit rather than chaos. His arrangements keep a balance between aggression and bleak atmosphere, creating long, absorbing compositions that reward patience. The drumming remains relentless but measured, reinforcing the hypnotic nature that SAD has always embraced.

Nadir’s vocals are as venomous as ever, harsh, occult, and expressive without drifting into theatricality. His presence is spiritual, channeling the lyrical themes of isolation, transcendence, and human decay with determination. Together, the two create a soundscape that is blistering and strangely meditative, as if forged in the same black flame that lit the early underground.

The production stays true to the band’s roots. Cold and direct, avoiding modern slickness. The atmosphere is raw but not unlistenable, it captures the essence of black metal’s origins while allowing every layer to remain audible. This approach gives “Fullmoon’s Bestial Awakening” the authenticity of something carved from darkness rather than polished in a studio. There’s a sense of timelessness across the eight tracks without rush, expanding their ideas patiently, pulling the listener into long, immersive passages where repetition becomes ritual. It’s an album to experience in full, a journey through desolation that is oddly invigorating.

“Fullmoon’s Bestial Awakening” stands as another strong offering from a band that refuses compromise or trend-following. It’s a work born from dedication to the old ways, sharpened by maturity and unwavering intent. Fans of authentic black metal, where melody hides beneath frost and fury, will have enough material to get lost in.

Score: 7.8

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063648343729#