Adamant

I know the reviews here at MA should first and foremost be about the musical content of the releases. However, in the case of the third album by Styrian black metal commando Asmodeus it is difficult to not mention the presentation of the physical product at the beginning. Two well received full lengths in the early/mid noughties had been followed by twelve years of silence. I have no idea about the background of this hiatus but in 2018 the lads have been back with “Adamant”. The CD version released by Austrian black metal experts Talheim Records comes packaged in a glorious wooden box which looks so stunning that I would have thought about adding it to my collection even in case the music was poor. Thankfully this is not the case as we got a mighty slab of pretty traditional black metal presented with a lot of passion.

Asmodeus play a style of occult black metal that is very fast, raw, aggressive and traditional sounding. The production is pretty dark and raw, while the lyrics cover Occultism, war but also subtly philosophical themes. “Adamant” is a multifaceted experience, one that includes elements suggestive of unearthly grandeur and reverence but also channels moods of anguish and hysteria. The music often swirls and gleams in a kind of otherworldly ecstasy, and when the hurtling pace briefly pauses, it creates an atmosphere of mystical majesty.

The riff attacks burn and swirl with evil intent, and become sinister and savagely delirious, both ominous and dismal. The vocals also manifest these feelings, with the intense delivery sending some additional shivers down the spine. Overall this album is mainly about staying true to the original formula that had been defined by the Scandinavian heroes back in the last century. There are some more technical parts, dissonant arpeggios, jolting percussive assaults, and rampant blasting, but overall the main focus is on delivering a nicely flowing experience for the listeners at home.

Like most of their peers Asmodeus are specialized in presenting a deep and captivating atmosphere, most of it stemming from the haunting guitar harmonies. I am always impressed how bands are able to cover various moods by presenting different themes and melodies, all of them embedded within the respective songs. The production is exactly like it should be, gving the individual instruments enough room to breathe. Like mentioned before Asmodeus made sure that there is enough grit in the end product to satisfy the need of each (black) metal fan. All in all this album is a safe bet for fans of the genre and an absolute must-have for each collector.