Somewhere in early 2008, Irish guy John Jesu ‘J.J.’ Nehero formed the project SG666 in order to pay tribute to old Burzum. After having written and recorded some demonstrational material, he joined forces with Italian drummer Ordalak, and they started writing on what would eventually become their debut album, Self Inflicted Genocide. Somewhat later Pesten Antilight, also Italy-born, joins, and SG666 change the moniker into the current one, Sguaguarahchristis. This name was created by J.J. as some symbiosis of the Suicide Angel Sguaguarah and the Messiah-concept. Lyrically too the whole now focuses on depression, suicide, frustration, loss, pain, misanthropy, auto-mutilation and self-destruction. Finally, in 2012, the trio independently release the debut, Self Inflicted Genocide. A couple of months later, also a split with Selbstmord sees the unlight.
Enter 2013. J.J., suffering from a long depression and being addicted to heroin, commits suicide. But Pesten and Ordalak decide to continue with Sguaguarahchristis, and Abraxas Xull, a long-time friend of J.J., joins the project. The trio records and releases the 7”EP Raven and the promotional Anti Human Black Metal, which includes the Mayhem-cover Freezing Moon. They also start writing new material for the sophomore full length, which does not deal with suicide and depression anymore, yet with the concept of night and infinity. In mean time Sguaguarahchristis were able to sign to the fabulous Italian label This Winter Will Last Forever.
Dar Nacht (‘the night’; as a matter of fact, shouldn’t it be ‘die Nacht’?) consists of seven tracks, and it was originally digitally self-released in early 2014. It brings mainly fast and aggressive, rather traditional and technically well-executed Black Metal with clear inspirational sources from the so-called Second Wave-current. That Second Wave-feeling gets translated as well within the production. The sound indeed is rough and unpolished, maybe even too under-produced. The bass lines, for example, well, where are they? And song drum patterns sound way too hollow. But I won’t fuzz about it too much, because it’s not that bad, and besides, I prefer this lo-fi way above a sterile and clinical sound. This is Underground, you see (you hear)?... Many melodies sound truly epic, and then I am referring to the Scandinavian early-nineties scene specifically (and the Norwegian one especially; think Kampfar, Forgotten Woods, Hades etc.), while the faster pieces balance somewhere in between the likes of Triumphator and Emperor. Besides, the few high-tech riffs, the shrieking vocal lines and some of the synth parts bring Emperor to mind once again.
Nice note to end with: actually the band is writing and recording some new songs for an upcoming EP, which will be released in a couple of months, if everything works out well. Until then I salute you…