ALBUM REVIEW: Die Wilde Jagd – Asenblut
One of the most defining features of ASENBLUT is their inability to remain within shackles of one genre. The tin might say ‘melodic death metal’ and ‘Viking metal’ wherever you look, but the German metal masters like to avoid doing what the tin says. Fans of the likes of AMON AMARTH, needn’t look away, though, because their latest release, Die Wilde Jagd still firmly embraces the mysticism of the genre they wander the outskirts of.
Despite the crunchy distortion of the guitar tone, undertones of folk are clear from the opening moments of the title track. Vocalist Tetzel isn’t messing around, and delivers fierce screams and staccato grunts in equal measure throughout the first minute. So far, this is pure, fast death metal. It doesn’t take long for the influence of power metal classics to wander into the fray, though, with a catchy chorus and a treble-filled guitar solo slotting nicely between the aggressive verses.
Their own citation of black metal influence can be felt as Codex Gigas kicks off, with a flurry of blast beats and grainy tremolo-picked guitar notes giving way to the bouncy undertones of folk once more. This is the second single from the album, and its remarkable accessibility makes it easy to see why. Seite An Seite continues along a similar path, with influence being felt from just about every end of the music spectrum.
On paper, it seems like ASENBLUT have crafted some sort of genre-bending, progressive masterpiece so far. Three tracks in and we’re onto a winner, but the rest of the album proves that this might not be the case. Drachentoeter might be the first track on the album to kick off with a calmer, almost IRON MAIDEN-esque introduction, but it’s also the track that starts allowing Die Wilde Jagd to veer off into monotony. The band’s instrumentals simply aren’t interesting enough, and for a band claiming to be able to mix melodic death metal sensibilities with influence from black and thrash, they seem to have wasted their three catchy choruses on the openers. 300 might have energy behind it, but it’s a little too late. By the tail end of the album, most listeners will have almost lost interest. Countermelodies galore and rip-roaring solos appear one after another like they’re trying to make up lost time, but we’re still longing for the good old days when we were grinning from ear-to-ear listening to track two.
The three opening tracks are gripping and will appeal to any lover of heavy music, while fans of the likes of BLIND GUARDIAN and AMON AMARTH should be able to get something out of the whole thing, but unfortunately Asenblut’s latest offering simply doesn’t live up to their critically acclaimed Berserker.
Rating: 6/10
Die Wilde Jagd is set for release April 17th via AFM Records.
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