Asenblut takes up arms once again.
Two years after their last battle, Tetzel (vocals, All For Metal), Balrogh (drums, Soul Grinder), Sash (bass), Chris (guitar), and Alex (guitar) sign with Massacre Records, with whom they release their sixth album, Urgewalt.
The adventure begins with the epic Urgewalt, the opening track that kicks off with warlike orchestrations leading into furious, choppy riffs, followed by the powerful voice of the troop commander who leads the assault with flair, incorporating more and more samples, especially in choruses, before the next charge. The heavy mosh part will undoubtedly spark some great crowd movements before a perfectly executed solo, and then the final surge carries us into Asgards Ruf, the next track, which will also plunge us into the heart of the battle thanks to Folk influences that blend perfectly with the Melodic Death Metal foundation. Harmonics guide the band’s razor-sharp riffs, creating a particularly infectious sound just as on Der Druide” where a touch of melancholy emerges, and where the band welcomes Sagenrbinger to bolster the vocal section, almost developing a hint of Black/Death Metal. The quintet follows up with Das Ende der Pflicht, a track that stays true to their signature style and even incorporates a few Power Metal elements in the lead guitar parts, before returning to more unifying sounds on Barbaren und Legionen, a track featuring Victorius’ vocalist, whose clean vocals help build on the same vibe as the previous track. The dual vocals are particularly effective, and then the festive tones take center stage on Tavernenrausch, a track where the Germans welcome their compatriots from Mittel Alta to bring a surprising touch of darkness to their ode to drinking. The track, however, moves fairly quickly into Drei Flüche, which returns to a solid, serious approach via a fairly simple rhythm section over which the vocalist and lead guitarists take turns to keep us on the edge of our seats, before Blut für den Blutgott naturally makes us raise our fists and headbang frantically. The entire track will leave our necks aching, but Bruderschaft is far from offering us a break, delivering a thoroughly catchy track that blends aggression and unhealthy darkness, leading seamlessly into Loki, the final track, which also picks up the pace immediately and delivers solid riffs dedicated to the god of mischief, bringing the album to a close.
As far back as I can remember, Asenblut has always delivered strong songs, and Urgewalt can proudly stand alongside their earlier albums while providing the band with a handful of new tracks to bolster their setlists.
85/100
