Šakal – II

Written by on 26-07-2025 at 16:26.

Jav, Prav, Nav , the previous album of this Serbian quartet Šakal, turned out to be a very nice release. Now the band comes forward with II which sounds like a logical sequel. The black metal of this band is robust and raw but has sufficient own ideas. It reminds me of Srd, Kampfar, Taake  and Skyforger . Now, you can hardly call those bad influences.

The Polish label Werewolf Promotion doesn’t ring a bell at first glance, despite the fact that the label has been active since 2007. I guess I wasn’t paying attention. The jackals in this Novi Sad-based Šakal however do know what to do, I’m sure. I’m curious if the music on this most recent record will be as brutal as on the previous one.

Six songs, just under forty minutes of music, it should be enough to get back into it. In the Book of Veles, that is, because after the debut I suspect that the gentlemen will simply continue to knit and embroider on this theme. It immediately becomes clear that the gray sounds that were present on Jav, Prav, Nav have not been exchanged. In typical Slavic fashion, Hrast rolls and thunders. The song stands like a house, like a sturdy oak with its roots deep in the familiar soil. It is also a reference to the cultural and historical background of the band that prefers to gurgle in its own national language. A language that is nicely embedded in steaming, pounding and at times boiling and bubbling riffs.

For the latter you only need to listen to Groma sin for example. A song that starts like a whirlwind, not in the least because a blast part is supported by a melodic line that is hard to beat. Then the double bass parts come thundering in as if they were a sweet delight. The following Kosti actually does exactly the same but here the dreamy, penetrating sounding lead and acoustic parts are the means that proclaim the evil message. Also wonderful how a meandering melodic part is propelled by a blast event in Spaljena zemlja. The closing U krvi again provides a few uncheerful notes but brings the brew to its boiling point once again. Nice, isn’t it!

II by Serbian Šakal has become a typical Slavic inspired black metal record. It is a record that I recommend you to listen to. You will not be disappointed, certainly not if the bands  mentioned above are up your proverbial alley.

Score:

85/100

Label:

Werewolf Promotion, 2025

Tracklisting:

  1. Hrast
  2. Groma sin
  3. Kosti
  4. Vučji dani
  5. Spaljena zemlja
  6. U krvi

Line-up:

  • K – Vocals, bass guitar
  • M – Drums
  • V – Guitar
  • V – Guitar

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