ASHENHEART - Faded Gold (Review)

Written by: The Administrator

In the mundane life of a music reviewer, there are few things more gratifying than witnessing organic excitement about a new project. From the moment Ashenheart released "Weave Thy Night Into Being"--what would eventually become the closing track on debut album Faded Gold--there was a notable buzz of anticipation in our small but earnestly supportive shared corner of the metal twitterverse. This track was frigid and exciting, and after a single listen, I found myself eagerly awaiting more. To quote my micro-review at the time: "the guitar is oddly intoxicating. I love the low rumble and the rolling drums, and the vocals are absolutely killer as well. Very excited to see where this project goes next!"

The wait wasn't particularly drawn out. Another album single and a standalone dropped in short order, and then the full 6-track album not far behind. And let me tell you: Faded Gold did not disappoint. This is a very good album, as sharply conceived and well-executed as the singles indicated. I've enjoyed it relentlessly since its release a few weeks back.

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The title track gives a pretty good taste of what lurks within. Initially a blackened dirge with that frosty black metal atmosphere we all know and love, "Faded Gold" gets the comparatively dour iciness out of its system before finding a tasty bounce around the midpoint. This energetic launch into the back half displays Ashenheart's penchant for a wonderfully prominent drum presence. On this track and most that follow, Amanda Kauffman's drum programming feels almost danceable, often subtly letting her frigid and oft-hypnotic guitar take a back seat when it comes to leading the groove. It's an approach I don't see that often in black(end) metal, and it is pretty damn fun to be caught in the current of an album that implicitly encourages the listener to headbang to the drums. Incredible stuff. But speaking of guitar, the teeth-chattering solo on "Faded Gold" is excellent, lending a little additional variety to a track that already succeeds at keeping the listener's attention throughout.

And! Lest they be forgot, the vocals, courtesy of Alex Loach, are vivid and visceral yet notably precise. There's an implicit bestiality and rawness that suits the overall vibe, but no screech or spine-tingling shriek feels superfluous or uncalculated. Despite a vicious bloody bite, the vocals are less splattered and more embossed upon the instrumentation. Alex's execution truly shines. For a prime example of the sheer power of the vocal performance, I recommend checking out second track "The Fell Omen," which might be my favorite on the album after the aforementioned "Weave Thy Night Into Being."

There's a lot of moments I love on this album. Take, for example, the melodic and sinister build on "Scarscourge," or the icy yet forlorn bridge on "Weave Thy Night Into Being," or the title track's outro, which bursts forth with a crisp and distinctly rockin' momentum. Here, I'm fondly reminded of Rebel Wizard's ability to bridge the respective energies of NWOBHM and black metal. In regards to the utilization of guitar throughout, I mentioned the "oft-hypnotic" riffage above, but that doesn't mean the riffs are designated to lurk in the background. Check out the stellar "Last Lord of Fire," which features a profoundly deathy riff coated with a grimy patina. It's the soundtrack that accompanies you whilst engaged in the questionable yet undeniably badass act of busting open a rotting coffin with a chained flail. Lots of menacing gravitas there, that's for damn sure. A badass track through and through.

More examples? Sure! The aforementioned vocals on "The Fell Omen" are so goddamn confident that the accapella scream on the outro feels like the most natural composition choice. The drums switching things up at the 3:00 mark on "Lords of Blasphemy" injects a completely new vibe that, despite its minor role, remains a highly memorable moment in the course of the track. I really enjoy the ambient atmosphere on this particular song, but if I do have a complaint with the tracklist overall, I do wish "Lords of Blasphemy" were a tad shorter. Built on a hypnotic riff with little variation, the back half does start feeling a little repetitive. Otherwise, though, the album feels exceptionally well-edited for a debut, and Ashenheart keep things remarkably lean and mean across a tight 33 minute runtime. In the world of extreme music, I'm often of the mind that less is more, and here Ashenheart have delivered a project that demands a register rather than overstaying its welcome. That's a damn fine quality. 

In sum? Faded Gold is a very strong debut showing from Ashenheart, and I believe the duo has hit upon a very potent combination of unique aesthetics in a fairly crowded space. This album deserves more attention, and the band deserves eyes on future work. I'll certainly be on the lookout for further developments. In the meantime, I'm certain I'll have Faded Gold on repeat all summer here at the Sleeping village. I highly recommend that you, dear reader, join me in doing so! Find it on bandcamp here.

Ashenheart - Faded Gold was released July 19th via Syrup Moose Records.

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Ashenheart can be found:
Bandcamp
Linktree