Asguard Dreamslave
This Dark Reign Recordings TDR-21 - August 9th, 2005
By Josh Phillips
Dreamslave is the third full-length album from the best and perhaps only metal band hailing from Belarus, Asguard. Though the band seems to want to be considered brutal black metal from their promo sheet descriptions, they are really a melodic death metal band with NWOBHM leads, keyboards at the forefront quite often, vocals of a standard black metal nature, and ambient interludes. Sounds interesting? It is.
Outside of the sheer catchiness of the riffs, one of the first things youll notice is that the keyboards play a VERY prominent role in the music, leading the way often, but not quite as much as the guitars. Despite this, the keyboards are tastefully done and dont sound like the techno/electronica keyboards you sometimes get permeating this kind of music. They flow more like classic piano pieces than keyboards randomly added to metal ala Children of Bodom or Dan Swanos Moontower(in places). They often create an epic feel as well and could actually be the instrument you end up focusing on the most at times. This isnt to say though, that the rest of the musicianship is unimportant or unworthy of acclaim. This IS melodic death metal, and fortunately the description in this case should work in the bands favor, instead of against it. The riffs and keyboards blend together to create an extremely catchy atmosphere, weaving in and out and trading off one another in the most tasteful of ways. Interestingly enough though, the riffs are still heavy and fast, sometimes reminding me of the debut Arsis album or rare selections from Vintersorgs Cosmic Genesis. Songs such as Slave Forever are certainly heavy and death-metal oriented enough that folks should have no reason to fear the melo-death tag. This is worthy of the name, not watered-down garbage.
Though the promo sheet recommends this album to fans of Mayhem, Darkthrone, etc. this album really doesnt have a lot to do with black metal, outside of the vocals and occasional sorrowful atmosphere. This is the mix of NWOBHM and death metal that the melodic death genre represented at times in the past and really always should have. The riffs crush, the leads soar, the vocals never turn clean and wimpy. Despite the lack of atmosphere in much of the melodic death genre, Asguard counters by including various ambient sections to the album to mix in with their sparse slow-paced moments. Haunted by beautiful keyboards and the sound of rain in pieces such as Time of Eternal Dream, the music sometimes matches the booklet art: The wandering moon and barren trees in a time of sorrow.
Asguard, though their formula is sometimes familiar, is not a band that should be lumped in with any other. They still manage to maintain a unique edge shifting from Jester Race era In Flames to Arsis to Fission. Asguard in ways also reminds me of Coram Lethe, and if youve read my review of said band, you can tell thats a very good thing. Both bands are heavy, yet melodic, create epic metal with hordes of flaring, gorgeous riffs and sound completely unique and foreign, yet entirely at home. Each band creates a somewhat spacey atmosphere in the middle of thrashing, epic, melodic, brutal, amazing album. The musicianship is very good both on Dreamslave and The Gates of Oblivion. The guitar work is standout, the bass is strong here, though not nearing Giacomo Occhipinti levels and the drumwork is solid with a lot of touch displayed in handling the various segments of music. Asguard's vocals, though theyd be fitting on a grim black metal album, fit well in their own right here.
Asguard was a band that Id formerly never heard of, but theyve certainly jumped onto my radar with the release of Dreamslave. I wont point out any highlight tracks, because I thoroughly enjoy listening to the album as a whole. Its quite a strange, yet wonderful experience and Ill just point out that the band did an excellent job of organizing all of their elements into a 16 track, 50 minute opus that remains coherent and of a high quality throughout. This album should appeal to fans of various metal sub-genres and it wouldnt surprise me to see fans of thrash digging the high-speed riffing (similar to how many probably enjoy Ensiferum) while fans of the melodic forms such as power, progressive and melodeath will find something quite worthwhile here. Though Dreamslave will appeal to fans of the last three mentioned genres more than anything else, Im compelled enough to say that as this record flat-out rules, anyone should look into it. The music on the album is simply hard to put down with words. Something drew me to it upon seeing the cover art, and the music delivered. Though not the most different thing youll hear this year, Dreamslave still manages to be unique, yet accessible, fun, yet emotional and quite simply put, good.
8.75/10
Official Asguard Website
Official This Dark Reign Recordings Website
This Dark Reign Recordings TDR-21 - August 9th, 2005
By Josh Phillips
Dreamslave is the third full-length album from the best and perhaps only metal band hailing from Belarus, Asguard. Though the band seems to want to be considered brutal black metal from their promo sheet descriptions, they are really a melodic death metal band with NWOBHM leads, keyboards at the forefront quite often, vocals of a standard black metal nature, and ambient interludes. Sounds interesting? It is.
Outside of the sheer catchiness of the riffs, one of the first things youll notice is that the keyboards play a VERY prominent role in the music, leading the way often, but not quite as much as the guitars. Despite this, the keyboards are tastefully done and dont sound like the techno/electronica keyboards you sometimes get permeating this kind of music. They flow more like classic piano pieces than keyboards randomly added to metal ala Children of Bodom or Dan Swanos Moontower(in places). They often create an epic feel as well and could actually be the instrument you end up focusing on the most at times. This isnt to say though, that the rest of the musicianship is unimportant or unworthy of acclaim. This IS melodic death metal, and fortunately the description in this case should work in the bands favor, instead of against it. The riffs and keyboards blend together to create an extremely catchy atmosphere, weaving in and out and trading off one another in the most tasteful of ways. Interestingly enough though, the riffs are still heavy and fast, sometimes reminding me of the debut Arsis album or rare selections from Vintersorgs Cosmic Genesis. Songs such as Slave Forever are certainly heavy and death-metal oriented enough that folks should have no reason to fear the melo-death tag. This is worthy of the name, not watered-down garbage.
Though the promo sheet recommends this album to fans of Mayhem, Darkthrone, etc. this album really doesnt have a lot to do with black metal, outside of the vocals and occasional sorrowful atmosphere. This is the mix of NWOBHM and death metal that the melodic death genre represented at times in the past and really always should have. The riffs crush, the leads soar, the vocals never turn clean and wimpy. Despite the lack of atmosphere in much of the melodic death genre, Asguard counters by including various ambient sections to the album to mix in with their sparse slow-paced moments. Haunted by beautiful keyboards and the sound of rain in pieces such as Time of Eternal Dream, the music sometimes matches the booklet art: The wandering moon and barren trees in a time of sorrow.
Asguard, though their formula is sometimes familiar, is not a band that should be lumped in with any other. They still manage to maintain a unique edge shifting from Jester Race era In Flames to Arsis to Fission. Asguard in ways also reminds me of Coram Lethe, and if youve read my review of said band, you can tell thats a very good thing. Both bands are heavy, yet melodic, create epic metal with hordes of flaring, gorgeous riffs and sound completely unique and foreign, yet entirely at home. Each band creates a somewhat spacey atmosphere in the middle of thrashing, epic, melodic, brutal, amazing album. The musicianship is very good both on Dreamslave and The Gates of Oblivion. The guitar work is standout, the bass is strong here, though not nearing Giacomo Occhipinti levels and the drumwork is solid with a lot of touch displayed in handling the various segments of music. Asguard's vocals, though theyd be fitting on a grim black metal album, fit well in their own right here.
Asguard was a band that Id formerly never heard of, but theyve certainly jumped onto my radar with the release of Dreamslave. I wont point out any highlight tracks, because I thoroughly enjoy listening to the album as a whole. Its quite a strange, yet wonderful experience and Ill just point out that the band did an excellent job of organizing all of their elements into a 16 track, 50 minute opus that remains coherent and of a high quality throughout. This album should appeal to fans of various metal sub-genres and it wouldnt surprise me to see fans of thrash digging the high-speed riffing (similar to how many probably enjoy Ensiferum) while fans of the melodic forms such as power, progressive and melodeath will find something quite worthwhile here. Though Dreamslave will appeal to fans of the last three mentioned genres more than anything else, Im compelled enough to say that as this record flat-out rules, anyone should look into it. The music on the album is simply hard to put down with words. Something drew me to it upon seeing the cover art, and the music delivered. Though not the most different thing youll hear this year, Dreamslave still manages to be unique, yet accessible, fun, yet emotional and quite simply put, good.
8.75/10
Official Asguard Website
Official This Dark Reign Recordings Website
