Ofte jeg drømmer mig død

I'm so thankful for Spotify's algorithms and the programmers that build them. They helped me move from Ungfell to Dumal and then to Afsky. Three bands I am playing every day. I've been meaning to make an EM account for a decade, and this album pushed me to finally do it.

As a whole, Ofte jeg drømmer mig død is epically triumphant and scratches all my sonic itches, but I really wanted to convey my sentiments on my two favorite tracks. These comments apply to all 6 songs though.

Track 3, Imperia, was the first song I heard from Afsky. I was in the car and didn't pay much attention until about a minute in when I heard the sexiest blast beat I've heard in years. It may have to be played loud to get the full experience, but the drums in some sections sound like a massive double bladed helicopter is hovering above you. This sounds is used through the album and it's like you can feel the air being displaced around you. Other than the percussion, the melodies are all really satisfying and memorable. I even find myself humming or whistling along sometimes.

Track 6, Angst is such a great way to end the album. It has all the brutality and melody of the other tracks, but also a tenderness that helps you come down after such a metal high. The vocals have this tortured frail quality that sounds like the singer is being dragged into the forest during each verse. Angst has the sort of folky depressive feeling I get from major bands like Agalloch. I also hear the gaze influence that is being done so well these days.

For a one man band, I am awe inspired by the writing and production on these tracks. You typically get one or the other, but there's serious attention paid to every moment of Ofte jeg drømmer mig død. This has just enough "atmosphere" for me. The album creates a sensation that is visceral and inside your body, instead of down the hall like some other bands feel. (Not knocking, this just isn't my style). My only con is that I can't track down any merch. I want to ensure this artist keeps making masterpiece!

Afsky js a Danish black metal act that I discovered recently, whilst on my eternal quest to find excellent music. In what seems like a tidal wave of "solo"/1-person extreme metal bands, Afsky comfortably elevates above the majority of the pack by writing music that tips it's hat to the classics within the genre, but also presents a fresh voice. It does this by intertwining fresh ideas structurally, in addition to an extremely palatable production and overall sound. It's common for one-person projects to often lack finesse when it comes to the mix - and often overall sound - but this has real care taken, with smooth sonic edges and carefully harnessed power when the extreme moments are in full flight. From the unique but powerful choice of album art, to the journey this album takes you on, this is a rare beast.

The album begins with a sublime acoustic passage, that almost harks back to early Metallica intros - and then a perfect transition takes you into a killer intense blasting section, full of melodic chords and lively tremolo riffing. The first song prepares you perfectly for the whole album, with music that is intense but attractive, and isn't scared to wear it's heart on it's sleeve. Across the entire 45 minute journey, it packs a myriad of influences neatly and carefully into it, including further delicious acoustic passages, that summon a yearning for a place and time I'm not from - but wish I was. The style itself is a very organic version of black metal, reminiscent of early Ulver at times, and even reminds me a bit of latter Taake, neither of which is a bad thing. There are moments of real, raw intensity, but because the overall sound and vibe is so warm, this blends in such a unique way it gives it a different feel to so many recent releases. The best way to describe this album, is "emotive" ; It ebbs and flows, and pulls you along for a glorious ride. It is so alive, so very alive, with a sombre mood pervading itself and by default, the listener.

The emotive element reminds me almost of a movie soundtrack, in metal form - something for a dark fantasy film for example. There are some excellent "headbanger" riffs and sections, with double kicks pummeling along, then they will dip into a slow careful passage, and just as you come to terms with that - in come the blasts. All extreme metal writing tricks are engaged and executed with superior skill on this release, the only thing that it could do with is a little more variation in the vocals, but it's not important as I believe that would detract from the riffs, which are really the standout element of the whole composition.

There is a beautiful darkness put forth in sonic fashion in Afsky's "Ofte jeg drømmer mig død", it's a complete album that doesn't rely on a couple of standout tracks, which is a testament to it's overall quality. The acoustic sections that are so tastefully interspersed are a gigantic positive, as it separates the album into movements, almost. There's a classical influence in the overall structure of this piece of work, despite there being repeated moments, this works as one piece, as opposed to an album of songs cobbled together. The classical and what I would describe as "folk" elements in the acoustic sections make it feel less one dimensional, and more lithe and writhing - a creature than even the most skilled hunter would struggle to get hold of. 2020 is producing some momumental releases, and this is one of them, and a band I will be keeping a firm eye on in the future.

Album structure: Very good, even if a little off-balance at the end. The acoustic guitar with synth strings intro is nicely recapped between the fourth and fifth track; in fact, it's a very cool compositional technique that is used (I'll let you hear and judge that for yourself). In terms of intensity, tracks 2 and 5 are in a tie for first, which is a nice balance in a 6-track structure. I felt that there was a big lull in the action during track 3, but oh well; it's difficult to keep up that kind of intensity for too long.

Other moments of note: the album does a good job of gradually drawing you in. At approximately 10 minutes into the album (perhaps halfway through track 2) was when I felt hooked by the material and the overall atmosphere. For some listeners, this might be too long; for some, this is just enough.

It might be me, but I really appreciated the subtle homage to the opening of Metallica's "Blackened."

My one big point of contention regarding the structure is the end of the album. The album peaks midway through track 5. This late placement would be fine on a 6-track album if track 6 is going to be your epic, 19-minute conclusion. However, that's not the case here, both on the track level (track 5 ends too soon; the peak is so strong that the rest of the track seems arbitrary), and on the album level, as track 6 isn't enough to hold up the end. This isn't a huge deal, but for those who enjoy consuming entire albums at once may have some issue with it.

Timbre/Production: 90% positive. For a one-person outfit, there is a clear awareness of all parts and their respective place in the layering and balance. There are times when the vocals get lost or folded into the texture a bit too much, but it's not going to ruin the album for you (especially if you don't know Danish).

The huge "what the fuck?" moment regarding production and balance comes at the beginning (luckily, it's fixed by track 2). We get this very clear and present-sounding acoustic/synth intro, then comes the "Blackened" homage, and then...it's as if the levels were cut by 25%. The remainder of the track sounds quieter than the intro, which shouldn't be right. Track 2 starts and everything is fine, so I'm not sure what happened.

Originality/Innovation: The mix of folk influences, black, and blackgaze is well done. I especially appreciated the transition to a more glazy sound in track 2; it provides a nice balance to the first 15 minutes of the album. Having heard a little of the previous release, you can tell that improvements in composition were made and the focus is more clear.

A very good album for the most part. Besides one issue with production and the overall structure being a little weak at the end of the album, I strongly recommend it.