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SARCATOR Unveil a New Musical Identity on “The Ones We Follow”
SARCATOR redefine their musical direction
Swedish metallers SARCATOR have released their fourth full-length album, “The Ones We Follow”, via Reigning Phoenix Music. Marking a new phase in the band's musical direction, the record brings together their extreme metal roots with gothic atmospheres, rock ’n’ roll energy and more pronounced melodic structures. Death and black metal vocals remain firmly at the heart of this evolving approach.
The shift in SARCATOR's sound is less about bringing different genres together and more about using each element according to what the songs demand. Punk urgency, gothic textures, traditional heavy metal and dark rock influences converge within the band's extreme metal foundation. SARCATOR describe this approach as death's rock – not a commitment to a specific genre, but an identity of their own.
In an interview with Dead Rhetoric, vocalist and guitarist Mateo Tervonen traced the roots of this evolution back to the band's second album. He explained that exploring different musical styles at the time pushed their songwriting towards a more progressive, unconventional and rock-oriented direction, an approach they have continued to develop on subsequent releases. He describes the making of the new album as a more focused process, with the material receiving considerably more attention and refinement.
Another notable development in the making of “The Ones We Follow” was the addition of new bassist Linus Edmarker to the lineup. SARCATOR have previously shared stages with Hellripper, 1349 and Midnight, while also earning nominations for Sweden's P3 Guld and Grammis Awards, marking significant milestones in the band's career.
The ten-track album includes songs such as 'The Underground Streets', 'Rotting Chapels', 'Bleeding Ages' and 'Wasteland Strider'. The band's new musical direction extends beyond the songwriting, shaping the album's overall visual identity as well. The artwork was created by Affe Piran.
“The Ones We Follow” album artwork
Following the album's release, SARCATOR will continue their live schedule. The first album release show is set for November 6 at Kollektivet Livet in Stockholm, where the band will perform alongside Zadism. Other announced dates include Metal at Lust Festival in Malta, shows in Falun and Gothenburg, and Næstved Metalfest in August 2027.
“The Ones We Follow” is out now via Reigning Phoenix Music. Physical copies of the album are available through this link.