Dive into the Sonic Shadows of “Nocturnal Elegies” by Sabhankra

In a way, hailing from an interesting place is a sword that cuts two ways in Metal. On the one hand, it definitely creates initial buzz to get your foot in the door. But on the other, being another “that (insert nationality) band” is hard to break away from and requires true staying power. Think about how many years it took Metsatöll to stop being “that Estonian band” or Beheaded to stop being ” that band from Malta.” But once a band does break that barrier, it’s a mark of quality.  That is all preface to say –Sabhankra is not just “that band from Istanbul.” 

No, after 24 years, on the precipice of their sixth album, Nocturnal Elegies, and with five albums under their belt that led them across the globe with legends like Cannibal Corpse, Necrophagist and Amorphis et alii – Sabhankra has made their staying power evident.  But rather than resting on their laurels, the band is going full speed ahead. Nocturnal Elegies is an ambitious and aggressive opus that digs into the many opaque darknesses that constitute the band’s corpus. 

To create this album, the band brings new attitudes to old friendships. The cold, massive sound is once again mixed by Nik Palivos of Haunting Studios, Athens. Nik’s production helps accentuate and really bring out that wintery black and white the band is going for. At once memorable, catchy even and then again unrelentingly grim – even a cursory listening of Nocturnal Elegies’ lead single, “The Shadebringer” makes that point beautifully.

Sabhankra‘s sixth album, Nocturnal Elegies is OUT NOW via Khufu Records.

Nocturnal Elegies Tracklisting: 

1. The Shadebringer
2. Embrace the Winter
3. Facing Fears
4. Dreaming of Snow
5. Heathens Hate
6. Heal My Shattered Heart
7. Weight of Time
8. Fading Memories

The album can also be streamed here on the official Black Metal Promotion YouTube channel.