O Saala Sakraal – Heven (Album – Cyclic Law)
Genre/Influences: Industrial, Ritual.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: “Heven” is the second album by O Saala Sakraal, a mysterious Dutch formation. This new opus comes three years after the debut album “Etmaal”.
Content: “Heven” features only 3 tracks (one more than the debut album). The work reflects a retro-like Industrial approach, which comes through in the percussion, but also in the ‘noises’ the work has been achieved with. The songs are featuring somewhat enigmatic voices, which at the second cut became a kind of exclamation format in Dutch. It creates a Ritual feeling, which totally matches with the Industrial sound of the work. A similar Ritual sensation comes back during the last cut.
+ + + : The Industrial percussion definitely appears to be the main strength of this collective. It brings good-old memories back to life, but most of all the ‘true Industrial spirit’. Mixing Ritual elements into their music creates the originality of O Saala Sakraal. There’s also something to say about the Dutch lyrics, which especially on “Apokatastasis” are truly freaky and commanding. The epic arrangements are also a great aspect of the production.
– – – : I regret the work only features 3 tracks; it’s more a kind of mini-album instead of a real full length.
Conclusion: O Saala Sakraal sounds as its name; intriguing and fascinating!
Best songs: “Apokatastasis”, “Moth Melismata: Photophilia”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.facebook.com/osaalasakraal
Label: www.cycliclaw.com / www.facebook.com/cycliclaw
About O Saala Sakraal
O Saala Sakraal is a Dutch ritual industrial project that records for the Canadian label Cyclic Law. Its debut album “Etmaal” appeared on Cyclic Law in 2018 in a limited CD edition.
“Heven” followed on 19 July 2021 as the label’s 176th Cycle, in a limited edition of 500 four-panel digisleeve CDs alongside a digital release. The album holds three tracks: “Moth Melismata: Photophilia”, “Apokatastasis” and “Heven: Etherwende | Aardwrocht”. Lead vocals are credited to nOh v°v, with choir parts by Haask, Jipke, Joutze Johanna and Nicky Heimili. Michael Idehall handled additional recording, and Marlon Wolterink mastered the album. The cover photograph is by Paul Koudounaris. Recording took place at Geluidwerkplaats Extrapool and at White Noise Studio in Winterswijk.
The project self-released digital reissues of both “Etmaal” and “Heven” in 2023, and returned with a third album, “Oastar”, in 2025.
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