Single Review: Asagraum - Impure Fire
Asagraum - Veil of Death, Ruptured
In your ceaseless quest for the most malevolent of black metal, should you crave the haunting echoes of an all-female lineup, channelling the raw, unadulterated spirit of the '90s, intertwined with arcane psychedelic incantations, then by the infernal horns of the Dark Lord, prepare to be ensnared! I've delved…somewhat deeply…and unearthed the shadowy enigma that is Asagraum. A duo? A trio? The Metal Archives whisper of three, yet their album cover reveals but two - what the heck?! What's going on? Perhaps a spectral third summoned from the nether realms?
Asagraum, this formidable all-female covenant, weaves a tapestry of the '90s black metal essence laced with psychedelic enchantments, all while chanting tales of the occult and the satanic. Guided by the cryptic Obscura, wielding her bass, vocals, and guitars like a sorceress of old. A. Morthaemer, the drummer, strikes with the fury of Mjölnir, while Makhashanah's bass resonates deeper than the chasms of the Mariana Trench. Since their emergence in 2017, this unholy trinity has bestowed upon us two dark offerings: "Potestas Magicum Diaboli" and "Dawn of Infinite Fire". Now, they beckon us with their impending ritual, "Veil of Death, Ruptured", set to descend upon us on Oct. 20th, 2023. And so, I dared to venture, albeit with a cautious pinky toe, into the abyss to review their sinister single, "Impure Fire". Let the flames rise, and The Citadel be consumed!
Asagraum confusing me further with a four-person photo
The track emerges like a phantom, drums echoing the very heartbeat of the underworld. Yet, it's Obscura's ethereal vocals that truly ensnare the soul. As the clock strikes the 50-second mark, a malevolent bridge ensues, melding haunting melodies with spine-tingling dissonance. A dreamscape so beautifully cursed you'd forsake the waking world. "Hey, Chort! What's the drumming like?" you ask. Well, it's a symphony of chaos…okaaaay! It's fierce and unyielding, but there are plenty of changes in this almost five-minute track.
From a production perspective, it's dirty and crispy yet more polished and digestible, much like that forsaken slice of pizza you found under your bed at 3 am that time you decided that going on a three-day bender in Bangkok was a good idea... The audial alchemy is a harmonious blend of age-old grit and contemporary precision, ensuring every demonic utterance and stringed lament is heard. What are the lyrics about?… Who knows, anyone who claims to understand these vocals without the written lyrics from the band is a goddamn liar, and I will mercilessly rain blows upon them until they apologise to me personally for claiming to understand the lyrics! However, the Cryptic chants, though indecipherable, beckon one to the darkened fold and, I'm sure, speak about the man with the pointy tail.
Anticipation gnaws at my pickled soul for the full album. If "Impure Fire" is but a glimpse, then Oct. 20th promises an odyssey most dark and wondrous. But heed not just my words, fellow denizens of The Citadel. Lend thine ears and be judged!
Listen to the unholy track below on YouTube or here on Spotify. In the meantime head over to Edge Circle Productions and pre-order your splatter LP of “Veil of Death, Ruptured”
