Asguard Wikka
This Dark Reign Recordings TDR19 2005
By Jason Jordan
Record companies have innumerable decisions to face everyday. Designs, layouts, marketing procedures, budget allotments, and such are just some of the myriad areas that labels have to explore. So, when it came time to release Asguards Wikka, Im wondering why This Dark Reign Recordings forgot to mention that there are actually fifteen songs on the release, not nine as the back of the CD would have us believe. Even more inexplicable is why the record company uses the phrase true debut in conjunction with Wikka. Supposedly, you wouldnt have been able to obtain a copy of this unless you lived in Russia and didnt mind toting a cassette tape around. At any rate, Im glad this remastered/repackaged album has hit international shores, because its pretty good.
Asguard play an uppity form of black metal that sounds more like melodic death metal in an Immortal Souls kind of way, but faster. Compositions such as The Vision of Dream and The Black Wandering of Death: Vision 1 are good due to the speedy performances, creative hooks, and phlegm-filled vocalizations. The production isnt superb, though its adequate; still, I really wanted to hear thicker, more substantial drums. The Black Wandering of Death: Vision 2 has a harmony line early on that is reminiscent of Indonesians Kekal. All of the aforementioned ponderings appeared on Summis Desiderantes Effectibus (2000). Within the stint of Wikka, we receive a cover of Judas Priests Leather Rebel, as well as An Eternity, which is a track from Asguards In the Darkness of the Night (1997). Numbers ten through fifteen are given minimal attention, and no information has been relayed about them in the liner notes or elsewhere. Those tracks are more demo-like than the other material, and the vocalist has a go at death vocals more often.
Hence, purchasing Wikka isnt a bad decision. This Dark Reign Recordings flubbed what couldve been a solid presentation for no apparent reason. However, Asguard are nonetheless worth checking out if only for their melodious nature. Me likey. Parents no likey.
8/10
Official Asguard Website
Official This Dark Reign Recordings Website
This Dark Reign Recordings TDR19 2005
By Jason Jordan
Record companies have innumerable decisions to face everyday. Designs, layouts, marketing procedures, budget allotments, and such are just some of the myriad areas that labels have to explore. So, when it came time to release Asguards Wikka, Im wondering why This Dark Reign Recordings forgot to mention that there are actually fifteen songs on the release, not nine as the back of the CD would have us believe. Even more inexplicable is why the record company uses the phrase true debut in conjunction with Wikka. Supposedly, you wouldnt have been able to obtain a copy of this unless you lived in Russia and didnt mind toting a cassette tape around. At any rate, Im glad this remastered/repackaged album has hit international shores, because its pretty good.
Asguard play an uppity form of black metal that sounds more like melodic death metal in an Immortal Souls kind of way, but faster. Compositions such as The Vision of Dream and The Black Wandering of Death: Vision 1 are good due to the speedy performances, creative hooks, and phlegm-filled vocalizations. The production isnt superb, though its adequate; still, I really wanted to hear thicker, more substantial drums. The Black Wandering of Death: Vision 2 has a harmony line early on that is reminiscent of Indonesians Kekal. All of the aforementioned ponderings appeared on Summis Desiderantes Effectibus (2000). Within the stint of Wikka, we receive a cover of Judas Priests Leather Rebel, as well as An Eternity, which is a track from Asguards In the Darkness of the Night (1997). Numbers ten through fifteen are given minimal attention, and no information has been relayed about them in the liner notes or elsewhere. Those tracks are more demo-like than the other material, and the vocalist has a go at death vocals more often.
Hence, purchasing Wikka isnt a bad decision. This Dark Reign Recordings flubbed what couldve been a solid presentation for no apparent reason. However, Asguard are nonetheless worth checking out if only for their melodious nature. Me likey. Parents no likey.
8/10
Official Asguard Website
Official This Dark Reign Recordings Website
