Sardonic Allegiance Make Black Metal Melodic Again (Without Ruining It) With "Coast II"

“…black metal — but black metal that actually remembers melody exists…”

Sardonic Allegiance are about to drop their upcoming EP Coast II, the follow-up to 2025’s Coast I (if you can believe it), and right out of the gate they make one thing very clear: this isn’t a soft reboot, a vibe shift, or a sudden identity crisis. This is a continuation. Same shoreline. Darker waters.

According to the promo material, Coast II “honors the foundation “Coast I” set while forging a path all its own,” leaning into encroaching darkness while embracing dynamic storytelling. Thankfully, that turns out to be more than just spooky marketing poetry — the band actually delivers on it. Imagine that.

The EP opens with “Your God Now,” and there’s absolutely no easing you into it. This thing hits immediately with full-force intensity and unapologetic black metal energy. The riffs rip, the drums push hard, and the vocals sound like they’re actively trying to exorcise your speakers. But what really stands out early is the melody — yes, actual melody — weaving its way through the chaos. So no, the promo wasn’t yanking my chain.

The lead guitar also wastes no time making a statement. There’s some genuinely impressive shredding here, and it adds a lot of character to what could’ve been a fairly standard opener. The use of synths caught me a little off guard at first, but honestly? That’s clearly where the “melodic” part of the melodic black metal equation kicks in, and it works more often than not.

Up next is “The Curse of Recreancy,” which leans harder into more traditional black metal territory. Tremolo-picked riffs dominate early on, and once the vocals come in, the song starts to feel more creative and intentional. It’s still aggressive, but there’s a bit more breathing room here, letting the riffs actually stick instead of just blasting past you in a blur.

By the time we hit “My Rightful Ruination,” the EP starts to show its more ambitious side. The track opens with an old speech recording sample before smoothly transitioning into mid-tempo black metal driven by melodic tremolo picking. Atmospherically, this is one of the strongest moments on the EP. The synths are used sparingly and tastefully, enhancing the mood without drowning the metal underneath.

That said, this is also where the runtime starts to make itself known. The first two tracks hovered around five minutes, but this one creeps closer to six, and you do start to feel it a bit. Thankfully, a tempo shift about halfway through helps regain momentum, preventing the track from overstaying its welcome.

The ending is a highlight, though — the metal instrumentation fades out, giving way to a synthetic choir that feels ripped straight out of some dark fantasy cult ritual. It’s eerie, effective, and a smart transition into the closing track.

That choir leads directly into “Prodigious Night (The Sorceress),” a ten-minute closer that immediately raises one very important question: please don’t feel like ten minutes.

Good news — it mostly doesn’t.

There’s even a brief whispered cameo (presumably from the titular sorceress) that adds an extra layer of atmosphere early on. Halfway through, the track still feels strong, which is exactly what you want from a closer of this length. The riffs stay engaging, the drum work remains tight, and the vocals continue to match the dark, mystical vibe the band is clearly aiming for.

The lead guitar work across the entire EP really deserves extra praise here. I’ll admit it — I underestimated how good it would be, and I will absolutely regret doubting it. The melodic leads elevate the songs without turning them into power metal cosplay, and that balance isn’t easy to pull off in black metal.

The track fades out rather than delivering a big, definitive ending. It doesn’t feel like a final conclusion — more like the tide pulling back again. Which honestly just makes me wonder if Coast III is already lurking somewhere on the horizon.

Overall, Coast II is, at its core, black metal — but black metal that actually remembers melody exists. Sardonic Allegiance promised melodic black metal, and they delivered exactly that. No more, no less.

This EP isn’t trying to reinvent the genre or push into unexplored territory, and that’s not a knock against it. The performances across the board are solid: strong riffing, tight drumming, sharp lead work, and gnarly extreme vocals that fit the material perfectly. The bass keeps things grounded but doesn’t demand attention — not because it’s bad, just because it sticks to its role.

Yes, a few songs feel slightly long in places (especially “My Rightful Ruination”), but nothing here crosses into endurance-test territory.

Bottom line: if you’re into melodic black metal, this EP is very much your alley. Walk down it. Slowly. At night. With candles.