Sparzanza - Banisher Of The Light

Published March 26 2007

*=Staff's pick	Going Down* Before My Blackened Eyes* Black Heart* Godsend Man Enemy Mine Leeches Chasing The Dragon* Banisher Of The Light Dead Rising* In My Control Music To Interrogate By State Of Mind

Genre	Hard Rock/Stoner	Fredrik Weileby	Vocals
Tracks	12	Calle Johannesson	Guitar
Runningtime	41 Min.	David Johannesson	Guitar
Label	Black Cult Records	Johan Carlsson	Bass
Release	01 March 2007	Anders Åberg	Drums
Country	Sweden	-	Keyboard
Similar artists	Mustasch

Sparzanza is a mix of rock 'n' roll, stoner and good old Black Sabbath, just as their friends in Mustasch. This album is supposed to be 'more metal' than the earlier ones, which probably is true. Another piece of news is that they release Banisher Of The Light on their own label Black Cult Records. Their hope is that the absence of fighting with a record label will bring new energy and creativity to what is important - the music. When I hear the result I'm not far from signing that assumption.

The first times I listened I thought it to be a bit dull and monotonous, as I usually perceive stoner rock. But eventually the ketchup bottle came loose and I spotted the same rock 'n' roll groove as makes me like Mustasch so much. And suddenly I cannot even find the weak tracks. The start with ruffianly Going Down, melodic Before My Blackened Eyes and the little slower Black Hart is brilliant right through.

Chasing The Dragon is fuel to the fire that started in the beginning. The title track Banisher Of The Light is just a bit too repetitive to get to me though. The lyrics and the more modern metal sound makes me pass a thought to a record called St Anger. But that is far from representative of the whole picture, just another vibe you get of this collage of styles.

On Dead Rising the band get help from no less than Peter Dolving from The Haunted, who's characteristic screams bring yet another dimension to the music. Another guest appearance is Ralf Gyllenhammar from Mustasch who lays backing vocals on Godsend Man. His work is more symbolic though since Fredrik Weileby already has a voice not too far different from Ralfs. Altogether Sparzanza brings a fresh wind into the Swedish hard rock scene.