Asgaroth
Red Shift

LA RECENSIONE

I have decided to focus on reviews of groups unknown to most, as I hope to help those like me who are constantly searching for new music. So, Asgaroth is a band from Barcelona (Spain) and they play a genre of very experimental metal, extremely close to that of Arcturus.

The group revolves around Christopher Baque-Wildman (aka Mythral), the composer of the music, lyrics, singer, guitarist, keyboardist... and I think that's it... It's not a One Man Band, there is another guitarist (Oscar David Raventos aka Mr. Ax), a bassist (Daniel Rubi Piero aka Lord Lupus), and a unique Finnish drummer (Joona Etelämäki). Having introduced the band, let's talk about music: as already mentioned, the primary inspiration for this album seems to be Arcturus, but only concerning the keyboards. The rest follows structures hovering between black and doom. The guitars are powerful, with heavy and robust riffs often perfectly intertwining with the surprising keyboards. The bass mostly follows the guitars, although sometimes it stands out more than them. The drums are pure black, like Hellhammer to be clear. The vocal inserts are the most varied feature of this work: it ranges from Dani Filth-like screaming, to epic voices, to barely perceptible whispers, to growls... There’s everything in short, even if not in a consistent manner.

The song structures are often unpredictable, surprising for changes in time, volume, and chorus... The album was released in 2002, the production is surprisingly good for an unknown group. "Naked Eye" is the first track. It starts softly, but then suddenly explodes into a weave of riffs and a very catchy motif of Mythral's omnipresent keyboards. The alternation between moments of anger and melodic sweetness immediately immerses the listener in a kind of confusion/curiosity that pushed me beyond this still beautiful track, for which a video clip was also made. Then silence, and a slow entry into a world of light, choirs, and orchestrations. But guessing from the drum pedal something transforms again and a scream introduces "Lured Decoy", clearly inspired by the musical structures of Arcturus, with a continuous alternation of clean singing and screaming... Another gem to enjoy, between calm moments and typical black outbursts. Pause, "Cyphred" is a sweet and fast arpeggio accompanied by very sweet ambient atmospheres. Everything is nonetheless dormant, the evolution is slow... Until the sudden appearance of "Blutness". And it's like being plunged into a vortex. Unexpectedly the atmosphere has changed and the riffs have become decisive, the drums seem to chase themselves. Ample space for Mythral's screams... This time the masters are Dimmu Borgir in sound evolutions that go in contrasting directions, the times change and become odd, then even. In short, a storm of over six minutes that suddenly ends.

Then a cavernous voice introduces us to "Buried", another sonic masterpiece of keyboard and riff intertwinings... Here the doom references are much more noticeable even with whispered and clean voices. The keyboards evolve incredibly beautiful melodies, it’s almost unbelievable to find oneself in visions so full of color with music often described as composed only of black. Eventually, everything fades to then start the sunny "Mindscape", strangely more inspired by black and yet so little disturbing. "Descent to Dion" is immediately catchy and pleasant, yet another unpredictable sound evolution rich in solos, riffs, and especially double pedal. I honestly would like to see them live once... I don’t believe they could reproduce the CD perfectly, otherwise, they would truly be geniuses. The eighth track, "I, Befouled" is a spectacular dialogue between guitar and keyboard competing to express themselves upfront. Mythral's technique is superb: I have rarely heard a faster keyboardist than him. I’m not exaggerating when I say that only Jordan Rudess is faster, in my opinion. If there is anyone else I’d like to know (I'm talking about Metal). This track in my opinion is the most beautiful of the entire album, even though I don't know if anyone cares.

Another pause, although this time it's five minutes long. Only keyboards and synthesizers. And here the sonic progression is beautifully entrusted to the single instrument expressing itself in all its simple purity. "Sharpedge Solitude" is similar to "Blutness", at many moments. But boredom never prevails, I can never skip a track of this album. Then space for the title track "Red Shift", which stretches its melodies in a constant and continuous crescendo that leads to the protagonism of different musical instruments as it progresses. Even the voice changes and modifies in all possible styles, in absurd atmospheres, screams, changes in time and even in sound structure. Once the CD finished, it left an indelible trace in my heart, I cannot get bored even though I've been listening to it a minimum of 2 times a week for a year. It’s rare to find an emotional and, why not, technical masterpiece of the caliber of this "Red Shift". An anonymous group, yet still a masterpiece, it's not the usual CD that made history and that everyone listens to, but I definitely would never throw it away. Maybe I sound overenthusiastic and you will not like my way of reviewing, but this is my best...

Note: my references to other artists/groups/genres are purely indicative. Don’t think at all that you will hear "covers", the reworking of other groups’ experiences is purely personal and sometimes difficult to identify. Unfortunately, comparisons are necessary for clarity. I accept all kinds of criticism. Thank you.