SALTATIO MORTIS HEPTESSENZ ALBUM NAPALM RELEASE: APRIL 7, 2003 REVIEW: APRIL 13, 2003

I have actually managed to catch this band live no less than two time. Live they have an abundance of energy and power. The members all have their own handmade and mightily impressive bagpipes (I love the one shaped like a dragon, complete with two glowing red eyes), and they seem to have a really good time playing. However, I’m not that into bagpipes, and on record I think the sound gets a bit annoying after a while.
A lot of the more tribal industrial have a lot of things in common with the songs here. It is dark and medieval with lots of rhythms and percussion. The main difference is the bagpipes. Very well played of course, but not with much variation, something I guess is inherent in the instrument itself. The most used tool for spicing up the songs is the rhythm structures, and indeed I find myself bobbing along to the often complex beats. Although they don’t use vocals very often, it would have been better to leave them out altogether.

JOHAN CARLSSON