Style: Post-metal, black metal, blackgaze (Mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Alcest, Sylvaine, Ghost Bath
Country: United Kingdom
Release date: 14 November 2025

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Much is to be said for metal that is based on ‘vibes’. Heavy metal’s roots are direct, in-your-face, and melodic, and so the ethereal sensibilities of post-metal and blackgaze feel in a way antithetical to the genre’s foundations. Nonetheless, groups like Alcest and Deafheaven made great waves in the scene with their voluminous walls of sound, forsaking The Almighty Riff in the name of The Supreme Vibe. As Ink in Water, the latest LP from British group Asira, follows in the wake of these riparian titans with a focus on dreamy, blackened, billowing post-metal. Does the record gracefully float as ink in water, or does it simply sink?

A persistent ebb and flow shapes opener “Silence of Mind”. Stuttering electronics dance around thumping bass while bluesy guitar licks ripple the surface; the track suddenly cuts out, and a ferocious wall of tremolos crashes into the shore with fervor. The rest of the track, and As Ink in Water by extension, follows suit, balancing larger-than-life intensity with subdued, contemplative passages. Even the vocals adopt this sense of balance, as both delicate cleans (“Clarity”, “Still”) and caustic harsh vocals (“Cauterise”, “In Sunrise”) are used interchangeably.

While Asira showcase melodic flair through copious solos and skittering drum work, particularly on “Silence of Mind”, The Vibe above all else is the name of the game here. “Clarity” is led along by soulful clean vocals and amorphous guitar atmospherics until the halfway mark, when whipping drums help to recontextualize the chorus in a grand climax. “Cauterise” most effectively evokes intensity, beginning with an acerbic tremolo before springboarding into gnarly harsh vocals and ferocious start-stop riffage. Despite these two sounds sitting on polar opposite ends of the spectrum, they work together to create a compelling and cohesive atmosphere.

And As Ink in Water takes every opportunity it can to engulf the listener in atmosphere—but this isn’t always a good thing. The individual moments on any given track are all gorgeous, but when zooming out, the compositional through-lines aren’t entirely convincing. The slightest disturbance in The Supreme Vibe, whether it be the sudden halt in momentum halfway through “Cauterise” or the meandering atmospherics of closer “Still”, bring me back to reality and have me questioning how the song got to where it was in the first place. Asira’s post-blackened forebears heartily worship at The Vibe’s helm, but they also make a point to temper their atmospherics with focused and intentional songwriting. Additionally, the mixing could use a bit of love—everything on As Ink in Water sounds crisp, but the record is missing dynamics that would engender a feeling of stillness in the quiet moments and heighten the explosive deluge when transitioning to more intense ideas.

Asira took to the waves to pen As Ink in Water, at times deftly navigating its currents and at others stumbling headfirst into the brine. The record’s high points showcase the grandeur capable under the watch of The Vibe, combining soaring atmospherics with effervescent guitars and powerful drum/bass interplay. Unfortunately, As Ink in Water’s ideas simply don’t feel complete in the context of flat dynamics and less-than-focused songwriting. While there’s nothing wrong with getting lost in an ocean of vibes, I need something with a bit more direction to help me navigate the seas.

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Recommended tracks: Silence of Mind, Cauterise, Clarity
You may also like: Eldamar, Vestige, Ashlands, Unreqvited
Final verdict: 6/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Label: Independent

Asira is:
– Jack Reynolds: vocals
– Martin Williams: guitars, vocals
– Ethan Bishop: guitars
With guests:
– Alex Taylor: bass
– Sam Greenland: drums
– Lydia Williams: vocals
– Ellias Williams: vocals