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| #FOR FANS OF: Black/Deathcore |
Sansera is a quite new band as it was founded just six years ago in Jutland, Denmark. The Danish scene is not the most well-known, but it always delivers quality bands in very different subgenres. Sansera is led by the talented singer Frederik West Egerup, while other members have a lower profile on social media. From the very beginning, the band focused on modern subgenres such as deathcore and metalcore, although they enriched their sound with some black metal influences in the form of a layer that impregnates the band with a more atmospheric and darker touch. Breakdowns and pace changes are common, alongside very low-tuned guitars which are typical in genres like djent or thall. The first album, entitled 'Funeral for a Broken Mind', was a quite interesting first effort where these elements were already mixed.
Three years later, the band has suffered some line-up changes and tricky personal issues which have deeply influenced their new effort, an EP entitled 'Soleil Noir', where Sansera refines and delves deeper into the aforementioned core elements of its style. Both conceptually and musically, the new material is influenced by the difficult personal experiences endured, which makes the music sound more dramatic and emotionally intense. The songs of this conceptual EP are about remorse and tragedy, which fit perfectly with the band’s style. Production-wise, the EP sounds remarkably heavy and not particularly clean, as the guitars have a slightly filthy sound that makes the tracks sound even more brutal.
'Soleil Noir' consists of five intense and crushing tracks where the singer and leader Frederik displays a good range of brutal vocals, varying from lower tones to powerful screams. Pace-wise, the songs are also dynamic and varied. Just check out the EP opener "Altar of Ash", which begins with a tiny atmospheric intro followed by trademark low-tuned riffs and mechanical drums as part of a devastating mid-tempo section. It is also marvellously seasoned with captivating, sombre atmospheric sections. Pure fury erupts in the second half of the track with an unexpected blast-beat that could destroy any stage, as part of a heavy yet still pace-varied final section. Fury and dynamism are perfectly mixed, not a bad entrance to this excellent EP. "Beautiful Sin" has a strong industrial metal vibe, which I personally like. The band surely knows how to introduce cold and mysterious atmospheric arrangements that improve this already excellent second track. This is music made to be felt and, at the same time, to break your neck; I couldn’t ask for more. The final track, "In Silence", is a great closer as it summarizes all the main characteristics that define 'Soleil Noir'. Crushing riffs and powerful vocals alongside totally precise drumming work as one entity, creating a devastating wall of sound. As previously mentioned, atmospheric arrangements also play a major role, not in the frequency of their use, but in the way they define the overall sound. The excellent guitars are also used to this effect with a great result. This track even contains a nice solo, which is not the most common resource here, but it works perfectly well, enriching an already complex and multi-layered song.
'Soleil Noir' is definitely an excellent work by Sansera. The compositions are intense, crushing, and varied. The atmosphere is also a key element here, which definitely improves the final and highly satisfying result. Excellent job, guys. (Alain González Artola)
(Prime Collective - 2026)
Score: 83