Resonance - Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Ashen

Der Weg Einer Freiheit – Innern    9/10

The wait is over. After the masterpiece that was Noktvrn in 2021, Germany’s Der Weg Einer Freiheit unveil their latest unmissable offering. Innern is their sixth full-length release since their formation in 2009 of vital intellectual black metal that sears the senses and creates unnumerable questions.

Grandiose epic, simply huge, heavy, and dynamic that’s just the opener ‘’Marter.” It is nine minutes of extreme metal brilliance that traverses the black metal spectrum and leaves you in awe of the musicianship and songwriting ability on display. Then there is ‘’ EOS’’ Described “a visceral meditation on destruction and renewal’’ it’s a ride through the nature of duality backed by tremolo filled blast beat Armageddon. If you have not been exposed to Der Weg Einer Freiheit’s music before then Innern is quite frankly a revelation, its immediacy so vital to the extremity, it is unashamedly pure modern black metal that demands  nothing except your complete and utter attention and backed by superior songwriting skills that tracks like ‘’Xibalba’’ will stop you in your tracks with its hidden subtleties masked by a superior composition that builds and builds  into the most satisfying of crescendos. Nikita Kamprad’s vocals are stupefying in their depiction and ability to convey the subject matter within and backed by the excellent riffs on hand to create sonic soundscapes that are unique to each individual song. “Fragment” is fragile grandeur before another soaring display of extremity. ‘’Forlorn’’ is the coda that completes the record, memorable for both its emotion and power.

Revelatory Innern is essential with its all-encompassing journey into the abyss. Der Weg Einer Freiheit have created a riveting, organic display of pure aggression that is tempered by brief introspective moments that only enhance the experience. Words simply do not do it justice. Experience it. Superb.

https://www.season-of-mist.com/

Ashen – Leave the Flesh Behind                       8/10.

Perth, Australia’s Ashen return with their sophomore release, the aptly titled Leave the Flesh Behind, a furious release that epitomizes their utter commitment to death metal in all its extreme glory.

From the opening roar “Devourer” the die is cast. Ashen define their furious death metal tempered by the briefest moments that allow you to draw breath before the gloriously horrendous riffs and vocals of Richard Clements kick back in. Filled with such vitriol and loathing, they command your utter respect and attention. The pace is a slower grind that allows the music to bleed into the senses, its dissonance never allowing respite or comfort. ‘’Ancestral Gate’’ is suitably frenetic, the double kick work astoundingly heavy with a bass you can feel as well as hear. The title track is pure death metal with its dynamics, its journey into the unknown field with equal parts dread and knowledge. An album that deals with separation from the body and the ascendancy of the spirit while the flesh is left to decay and rot as best represented on ‘’Void Within,” again that pummelling rhythm section ascendant to the lurking terrors. The solos are brief, and the main riff to ‘’Ageless’’ is pure death metal excellence

Ashen is razor sharp with their approach, not a moment or blast beat is wasted. Leave the Flesh Behind is a vital and immediate as death metal gets. Its explorative and experimental without ever losing sight of the main goal, which is to create music as heavy as possible with maximum impact. The genre is alive and well and Ashen stand at its forefront with an incredible display of prowess and muscular power.

https://www.redefiningdarkness.com/