Asag – Feuer Zieh Mit Mir
I’ve been waiting quite a while to hear this; Asag’s second offering. As soon as the postman appeared and flung the package through the furnace doors and scuttled away like a giant crab from a Sinbad film, I had the disc spinning. If you’re a fan of their first album then this is a MUST have.
The band have obviously come a long way in the three years since their debut and it shows in almost every aspect of Feuer Zieh Mit Mir. The production is better, vocals seem harsher and the songs are a lot more interesting, technical, consistent and varied. I’m amazed that this is self released and that no label has picked them up after their first full length.
There is no intro here, a move which I personally like. The beginning riff is a chunky mid paced affair until the cursory opening scream begins and it changes pace rapidly. There are layers of vocals and plentiful changes in style alongside the guitars, even a solo thrown into the mix.
The second track ‘Metamorph’ steals the show though and is probably my favourite on the whole disc. Blowing a hole in your stereo with its hyper energy and pummelling percussion as Mentor’s furious grizzly howls echo about the listener’s skull. Its mainly fast but has a noteworthy old school slant to it, both Death and Black. The audible bass lines really add a lot of weight and depth too.
‘Traumtod’ also whips out it dirty needles and smacks you up with some hardcore hammering and it borrows elements of Black n Roll. Being the longest song at nearly six minutes there is plenty to get your teeth into and it progresses nicely with longer passages before utilising the original riffs again later in the song.
A few tracks later Asag deliver ‘Band des Verderbens’ upon us. This is a grim and depressive hymn of purest black with magnificent picked guitar, heavily distorted, that is both catchy and atmospheric. It seems a bit heavier too and displays all the properties to be classed as a lullaby for Minotaurs as I can picture the Minotaur parents bellowing this out when their kids are tucked up safely in the nest.
‘Asag Kult’ threw me as it sounds like it’ll be a ballad but thankfully they don’t disappoint and it thunders off into a blisteringly strummed riff after only a few seconds. The remaining two songs pack out the CD admirably, the last being a slow instrumental that gives the listener a little room to calm down, come round and reflect on what they’ve just subjected themselves to.
One thing is for sure, Asag would be amazing to behold onstage. If they can convert even a small portion of the energy they play with on the album into a gig, then the pit would be savage as fuck! Also the fact that the drummer sings is superb, just like the good old days of Autopsy etc. I hope that he does that live too.
In summary this is well played, executed and written with a broad variety of tracks of different lengths. The highlights for me were ‘Tor Gottes’ and ‘Band des Verderbens’ but not to detract from the other tunes there really isn’t a bad one at all. A fuckin’ excellent slice of recent Black Metal that should not be ignored, support it and purchase one of the 500 copies because I have no doubt that they will sell out really quick. Don’t miss out.
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