Sadness

Swiss extreme metal band Sadness take their primary influence from domestic forebears such as Celtic Frost and Coroner, but their sound also encompasses elements of baroque and classical composition in a manner close to that of the UK’s My Dying Bride. Similarly they also draw on classical literature for much of their lyrical inspiration. A quintet led by guitarist Chiva, their 1994 debut album, Oedipus, concentrated on the darker elements of Greek Mythology, while the follow-up collection was a concept album geared towards specific parts of Dante’s Inferno (notably The Divine Comedy). It was produced by Voco Fauz-Pas (a collaborator with the Young Gods, Treponem Pal and others) and Celtic Frost member Martin Eric Ain. There was also a shift in language from the first album from German to a mixture of French, Spanish, German and English, with guest vocals from Christina Christine.