Sardonic Allegiance is a Dutch Melodic Black metal band founded in 2008, unleashed their second EP, “Coast I,” on April 8th, 2025, and promoted by Cutting Edge Metal PR. This EP is the first part of two separate yet connected albums. Coast II is to be released in autumn 2025.
The First Three Sins, The Summary
The Fourth Sin, Overall Discussion
A Journey Through Words and Sound
As soon as the listener presses play, they are greeted by an intense triple-song suite that runs for nineteen minutes straight. This nineteen-minute composition acts like a journey through a world of words, filled with powerful lyrics that explore in-depth questions about existence, the strength of nature, and life’s big ideas. The songs are more than just music—they form a rich poetic essence, full of vivid imagery and emotional depth.
Raw Energy and a Blackened Spirit
Sardonic Allegiance seems to push the boundaries of black metal’s raw energy. The band captures the true and raw spirit of old-school black metal with relentless chaotic energy, speed, and a dark, gritty sound typical of underground scenes. The music feels chaotic yet controlled, with each instrumental piece standing out—guitars roar with tremolo-picked riffs, bass lines rumble with dark intensity, and drums blitz with relentless blast beats that let up. Despite the chaos, each part fits perfectly within the overall sound, creating a wall of sound that shouts with power and energy.
Cinematic & Epic Soundscape
The band’s style on Coast I is not done with just blending black metal and symphonic sound. But a feeling to elevate their music to something grander—something cinematic and epic. Each song feels like a short, epic movie on its own, packed with sweeping melodies and lush orchestral layers. The sound is big and impactful, making each note seem like a part of a larger story. The production quality helps this happen; it strikes a balance between clarity and aggression—each instrument is crisp enough to be heard clearly, but heavy enough to carry the dark tone of the music.
This delicate mix ensures that no instrument gets lost, and the melodies share space with chaos, without drowning in it. It heightens the entire listening experience, giving the music a feeling of scale and importance that resonates deeply.
Distinctive Style & Artistic Devilmanship
This is not a conventional representation of black metal; it is significantly different from bands such as Dimmu Borgir or Dissection. The vocal work, in particular, bears a resemblance to early Cradle Of Filth. Sardonic Allegiance establishes their own distinctive trademark: rapid, melodic, and unadulterated yet grand and epic in scope. It’s a unique sound that balances brutality with beauty, creating an experience that’s both intense and emotionally charged. Each of the three compositions deserves the listener’s full attention, showcasing the band’s artistic devilmanship.
This offers the listener a professional, tight arrangement and composition that is a fruit of art. Everything flows seamlessly, like a river winding through a lush valley, never rushing or stumbling.
A Seamless flow of Instrumental Precision & Composition
Sardonic Allegiance’s guitar sections, featuring intricate and melodic passages, often, weave complex lines that slide between tremolo-picked riffs and atmospheric chords. These melodies typically shift swiftly, creating a sense of motion and tension. The bass lines support the instruments with a deep, steady presence—sometimes subtly, sometimes dark and brooding—adding an extra layer of weight to the sound. Behind everything, the drums pound with relentless speed and aggression. They drive the songs forward with sharp fills and blast beats that keep the energy high and the listener engaged.
A Voice of Power & Emotion
The vocals add their ‘own’ level of punch and emotion. They are harsh, commanding, and full of force. The singer blends lower growls with higher shrieks, giving each song a wide emotional range. The deep growls convey a sense of menace, while the shrieks inject raw feeling and intensity. This mix helps communicate the anger, despair, and dark energy behind the music. Adding to the cinematic atmosphere are the synth layers woven into the music. These orchestral synths add a grand, sweeping feel, like a soundtrack to a dark, epic movie.
A Bold & Refined Take on Black Metal
Overall, Sardonic Allegiance’s music creates an experience that’s faster, more melodic, and rawer than some bands I encountered. Their style is a fresh take that balances aggression with grandeur, creating a sound that is both intense and beautifully dark!
The Ritual Ends, But the Abyss Remains Open
As the album reaches its final moments, its most intense and hauntingly beautiful passages fade into silence—an ending that is not truly an end, but a prelude to the second chapter yet to come. We want to give a shoutout to Cutting Edge Metal PR for letting us review Sardonic Allegiance‘s Coast I. Now, we are going to conclude the review by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish
Sardonic Allegiance
Triest — Guitars, Bass
Griendhakker — Drums, Vocals