ALBUM REVIEW: Sacred Cargo – MMXX

MMXX is a new band that features a whole host of talent from the doom metal scene in which the key members are guitarist/keyboardist Andrea Chiodetti (ex-THE FORESHADOWING), drummer Jesse Haff (DAYLIGHT DIES and GÖKBÖRI) and bassist Egan O’Rourke (DAYLIGHT DIES).

This trio are joined on the songs on their their debut album Sacred Cargo by a whole host of guest vocalists which feature – and check this roll call out – Dan Swanö of EDGE OF SANITY/NIGHTINGALE, Yann Ligner of KLONE, Mick Moss of ANTIMATTER/SLEEPING PULSE, Aaron Stainthorpe of MY DYING BRIDE, Mikko Kotamaki of SWALLOW THE SUN, Carmelo Orlando of NOVEMBRE, Marco Benevento of THE FORESHADOWING, and Chris Cannella of AUTUMNS END.

This all seems like a dream line-up when it comes to epic and gothic-tinged doom metal with melodic and death metal flourishes in there as well and the whole album features catchy riffs and a creeping and macabre sound throughout. While Sacred Cargo might seem more like a compilation album at times with all the different vocal appearances and approaches, it actually works well as a collective album experience and the songs do flow well with each other, resulting in an album with a certain ambience and vibe that plays up to the artists involved and their doom credentials.

Highlights on Sacred Cargo include the opening grandeur of This Breath Is Not My Breath which features the mighty vocals of Mikko Kotamäki, the gloomy anthemic nature of Der Nukleus with sombre and menacing vocals by Carmelo Orlando, and the album’s stirring title track which features a very effective vocal performance from Aaron Stainthorpe. This is a song that ramps up the doom-laden tension considerably but is also mournfully warm, and as that track segues into the beautiful but brief instrumental Espirare which in turn leads into the wonderfully done closing number Shadow Haven which features the passionate and powerful vocals of Dan Swano, it makes for a hell of a way to finish things off.

This is an album that has a number of different heavy sides to it and plays on those, but it is the grandeur of the project and how it is executed that makes it stand out. There is a feeling of sombre beauty throughout that is also captivating and you can’t help but be swept away as you listen.

Sacred Cargo might seem like a massive undertaking but it is one that MMXX more or less manage to pull off and with the talent on show here giving their all it really is impressive. Here’s hoping that there is another album from MMXX and it is executed as well as Scared Cargo, in that it demonstrates the breadth and depth of musical ability and passion in the doom metal genre.

Rating: 7/10

Sacred Cargo is set for release on November 11th via Candlelight Records.

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