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asphyx deathammer
Artist: Asphyx
Title: Deathhammer
Genre: Death Metal
Release Date: 24th February 2012
Label: Century Media Records


Album Review

Those who know Death Metal know that ASPHYX is no stranger to the genre. One of the early pioneers right alongside DEATH, BOLT THROWER, and OBITUARY, ASPHYX was one of the few to incorporate a thick, heavy old school sound that is similar to the likes of DISMEMBER or GRAVE- gritty but mid paced and easily accessible- with a slower, more melancholic and melodic style of early PARADISE LOST. Together, throughout their discography and evolution, these dynamics have given them an edge to keep in the graces of those who consider “True Death Metal”. In a modern age where there are so many sub genres, everyone has their own opinions about what defines the main genre and what does not. Some feel that a band like OBITUARY is too old and a modern band like HATE ETERNAL is too bland. ASPHYX’s ‘Deathhammer’ is their own manifesto of how Death Metal should sound: groovy, crushing, and without compromise while still being highly enjoyable. According to the band, it is a play on words from the MALLEUS MALIFICARUM text - ‘Witchunter’ - which was used during the inquisition of the Burning Times.

Like ASPHYX’s other works, the album varies back and forth between fast paced, hammering tracks and slower, more Doom oriented ones. Tracks like ‘Into the Timewastes’ and ‘Reign Of The Brute’ are fast and along the lines of DISMEMBER with a certain amount of groove to them and aren’t as overly bearing like something from CANNIBAL CORPSE, which tends to be more in the vein of Brutal Death Metal. ‘The Flood’ is more Thrash oriented and aims for catchy elements within the riffs, making the guitars more of the focus as opposed to the throaty growls, but can still be highly enjoyable for those who feel the music needs a bit of an upbeat to it. Tracks like ‘Minefield’ will definitely recall PARADISE LOST with the slow, somewhat repetitive passages that tend to be drawn out- usually these songs are longer- but at the same time the orchestrations are more sorrowful - almost beautiful - to hear and a nice pause from the heavier, faster tracks. ASPHYX does a good job at varying up between fast and slow to make the album not feel like it is split into two halves and just sounds solid all the way through. This is another strong one that Death Metal fans cannot dispute on how much it defines the genre from its origins, which are still going strong almost thirty years later.


Tracklist

01. Into The Timewastes - 3:40
02. Deathhammer - 2:26
03. Minefield - 7:27
04. Of Days When Blades Turned Blunt - 3:22
05. Der Landser - 6:54
06. Reign Of The Brute - 2:59
07. The Flood - 3:03
08. We Doom You To Death - 6:56
09. Vespa Crabro - 2:50
10. As The Magma Mammoth Rises - 7:51


Line-up

Martin van Drunen – Vocals
Paul Baayens – Guitars
Alwin Zuur – Bass
Bob Bagchus – Drums


Website

www.asphyx.nl


Cover Picture

asphyx deathammer


Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 9
Total: 8.5 / 10


www.asphyx.nl


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