Sarke's
Oldarhian is a refreshing take on dark, chugging metal. Thomas Berglie handles all the guitars, bass, and drums. Having made the rounds with
Khold,
Sensa Anima, and No Man's Child, he's no stranger to the scene. Those groups are a touchstone for what's on offer here, but the somewhat lo-fi production gives a reverential, invigorating retro feel to the proceedings. At times, one could be mistake these songs for
Motörhead. While
Darkthrone's
Nocturno Culto's gruff vocals do recall a
GWAR-ified version of
Lemmy, it's the frazzled punkish throttle of the music that draws the comparison. With subject matter gravitating from the internal demons of social anxiety to the external demons of genocide, many bases of fear and terror are expelled. Though
Oldarhian is angry and often evil,
Sarke have crafted an accessible moody beast with significant crossover appeal. ~ Tim DiGravina