Artist: Asnahsarg
Title: Endless Inner Solitude
Type: EP
Label: Unreal Estate Records
I was actually approached by F. the single mastermind behind this debut EP, to see if I would like to review it. It was a first, a nice first, but as I said ‘I can’t promise anything. We’ll see if I like it, it’s kind of how I want the blog to run. But I’ll certainly listen to it.’
So I gave it a listen.
And here we are.
Opening track ‘Through The Marshlands’ begins with eerie, slightly out of tune piano notes, gently plinking away until the guitar buzzes through. The production is lo-fi, sparse and skeletal but the riff is just superb, slipping seamlessly from a straightforward attack into haunting melody over the top. We dip through a soft, quiet section before the primitive punk tinged attack resurges towards the end and another heart aching melody slips free. Damn its a fine, downbeat but virulent first song.
‘Poetry Of Infertility’ is a howling blizzard of razors, vocals mostly buried as the guitar hacks through. But again they don’t forget melody. There are moments of clean vocals, again half hidden but curiously unpolished too which actually works better than if a great soaring voice had risen from the tangle of riffing and drumming.
‘In Sorrow And Decay’ has a distinct touch of Filosofem period bitter cold to its musical introduction; a stillness blasted away by the maniacal, heads down saw guitar cutting through everything. It’s strange how this type of raw black metal done well can with the sharpest, primitivism find the melody within and bring out a dark, bitter cloud of emotions. Anger, melancholy, loneliness tied with rusted bloodied wire and tightened into flesh.
‘Like A Knife On The Throat’ has an almost laid back, doom and gothic feel to it. Again the vocals like a freezing wind in the background and then that keening, barbaric guitar that shows how thing the strip of land between black metal, heavy metal and punk can be. Make no mistake this is black metal but you can feel the tangled roots of the punk particularly feeding the black metal tree.
I genuinely was surprised by this. It has come seemingly from nowhere and with its own actual sound. Oh, for sure you can hear the influences but the songwriting here is so solid for a debut, the sound beautiful and savage all together and the lyrics have a strange almost medieval or fantasy feel whilst still talking very much of feelings anyone in the real world can recognise.
It’s a superb start. Raw and with just enough punk infusion to the cutting black metal and with a real touch for melody (in a black metal way) that grabs you in a heartbeat. Links below to give it a serious listen and a purchase. Thoroughly recommended.
Gizmo
https://asnahsarg.bandcamp.com/album/endless-inner-solitude
https://unrealestaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/endless-inner-solitude
Walking The Liminal Space 