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Asenblut - Berserker

Published August 9 2016


*
=Staff's pick

Berserkerzorn*
Titanenerbe
Offenbarung 23*
Helden Des Ewigen Sturms
Auf Den Feldern Von Flandern
Drachenborn
Des Alchemisten Elixier
Bittere Wacht
Berserkers Ruhmeserinnerungen
Schatten Über Arkham
Horizonte
Auf Grauen Schwingen
Berserker Rage (Bonus track. English lyrics)

Genre Melodic Death Metal
Tetzel
Vocals
Tracks 13
Claus Cleinkrieg
Guitar
Running time 60 Min.
Yuri
Guitar
Label AFM Records
Deimos
Bass
Release August 19, 2016
Balrogh
Drums
Country Germany
-
Keyboard
Producer ---
Similar artists Amon Amarth

Asenblut's 3rd record Berserker definitely has its crushing moments and is to my ears an intriguing piece of music. It's written with German lyrics and not that I really care about the lyrical content for the most part, but I must say that I usually prefer music where I at least can distinguish the majority of the words in the songs.

Yet, since this is a pagan/death/viking metal record, according to the band's label, I guess it doesn't matter significantly in the end anyway and vocal-wise, with hand on heart, is there anyone out there who basically chooses to listen to stuff like this in search of a beautiful song effort, rather than the sheer force of the vocalist?

Quite commonly, when I listen to this type of music for a few spins, my thoughts go back to who I truly believe are the titans of the genre, Swedish outfit Amon Amarth, and I ask myself if I actually need anything else than what that band produces in order to fill my cup and the answer is generally a negative one.

With this record it's a different answer though, because Asenblut is really able to capture my attention for a full hour and I can feel that the mix of a thunderous performance, the badass energy and the sense for melodies behind the aggressive wall is hitting me right in the guts.

To me this record ends up mainly in a melodic death metal environment, although bits and pieces of heavy metal are present and even if they sometimes add a few black metal elements to the whole picture.

Unsurprisingly it doesn't break any real new ground in the scene and if you're heavily into this type of music, I believe that you can reminisce the appearance of a few of the most gainful and arresting parts of the songs, but on the other hand, does anyone come out with something totally new today?

I think that the band capitalizes on the entirety, as you're simultaneously hit by the mass of the music and the melody of the guitars through most of the album, and that makes Berserker to an enjoyable creation at the end of the day.

Performance
Originality
Production
Vocals
Songwriting

6

4

6

5

7

 
Summary



7 chalices of 10 - Tobbe


Related links:

www.asenblut.com
www.facebook.com/asenblutband