Åskog is a new entity featuring Murdryck members, whose last album received glowing praise on this very webzine. Born from the ashes of one great Black Metal band, hopefully this demo elevates the legacy of the duo to an even greater plane.
Without need for introduction, guitars and drums emerge with a simplistic eeriness that builds into convulsive riffing with plenty of groove and ambience. The drum work is delicate and tight while the guitars draw out in a spectral blend of soaring leads and grisly chords. Emanating through the mist comes very traditional howled screams that deliver the demonic possession we all know as a trademark of Black Metal. Thunderous fills warp into upbeat drums as the blistering savagery of the riffs contort into disturbing melodies with the visceral snarls just as captivating as the instruments. While some of the sound of Murdryck is present, the new name makes total sense as Åskog certainly has a very different direction that is heavily focused on a more progressive and yet also quite gritty take on the genre.
Disturbing dissonance glistens in the mix as the demo drops out into chunky bass and drum breaks before returning to the malevolent groove that had grown monolithic. This is not the kind of rampaging Black Metal that is bestial or ferocious sonically. This is more melodic and progressive with utterly phenomenal musicianship and still plenty of the grim feel of the genre at the heart of everything. Fans of Windir, Vreid and Enslaved will certainly be taken in by the mystique and complexity of Åskog. With plenty of traditional Swedish and Norwegian Black Metal elements played through venomously tight grooves and insane melodies, the atmosphere is nostalgic while not feeling too generic. Åskog blend their proficiency with a raw passion that gives the project legitimacy.
A truly brilliant debut demo that signifies a storm in the horizon from this talented trio. Scandinavian style Black Metal packed with melody that will enchant and destroy with equal vitriol and charm. If you like your Black Metal to have buckets of melody, magnificent lead work and a tighter overall execution, look no further. -8/10
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