Style: black metal/prog (harsh vocals)
Review by: Sam
Country: US-CA
Release date: 22 March, 2019
NOTE: This album was originally included in the March 2019 edition of The Progressive Subway
You know that feeling when you’re listening to an album, you can hear its quality, it is a style that you like, but you’re just not in the mood for it? That is exactly me when I hear Ashen Horde. Had I heard this about half a year ago, I would probably praise this into the heavens hell. Now however, I’m just staring into the void with thoughts of: “This is OK”.
I can be quite short about Ashen Horde. This album is about one thing, riffs. Riffs, riffs, RIFFS, RIFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did I mention riffs? No I don’t think I did. RIF- ok I think you get it now. Fallen Cathedrals is an onslaught of (melodic) black metal and OSDM riffs with a couple of progressive elements in their songwriting to not make it too monotonous. And taking this as their intention into account, I’d say they wholly succeeded. I wasn’t really in the mood these past few weeks up to this review, but even I found myself headbanging furiously to some of the riffs these guys churn out. Add in some neat production, effective use of clean vocals, a couple of superb guitar solos and a whole dose of fresh energy and you end up with a mesmerizing album. Oh, and they included a boogie rock section a la ZZ Top halfway in “The Vanishing”. Yes, boogie rock. Really it’s hard to fault Fallen Cathedrals for anything. Just a superb record all around.
I guess my only complaint with this record is that it isn’t more progressive. Some more crazy genre mashups, circus pianos and the like as the boogie rock in “The Vanishing” would have done wonders for my enjoyment of this. But honestly I can hardly fault them for this as it wasn’t their intention in the first place. Ashen Horde succeeded at what they set out to do, and that’s all that matters.
Recommended tracks: Parity Lost, the Vanishing, Face on the Enmity
Recommended for fans of: Immortal, Varathron, Enslaved’s Mardraum, Akercocke, RIFFS
Final verdict: RIFFS!!!! 7.5/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Label: Extreme Metal Music – Website | Facebook
Ashen Horde is:
– Trevor Portz (all instruments, vocals)
– Stevie Boiser (vocals)
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