In Asylum Requiem

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is a metaphor that is hard to implement into life, because in fact we judge a lot of things by its look. Judging by the look makes our first impression about something and somebody. It's not the most important thing, but still very important. And taking the metaphor literally, that's what the cover is for. Its role is to symbolically show what the book is all about. Or the... album! I think that it's common in some sense for everybody, but I’m a graphic designer so for me the graphics are especially important in the reception of the music. So when I saw In Asylum Requiem's cover, with a logo created with a text written in Old English font with straight line cutting it and some wings, also the album name written in Old English and a painting with a creature, I thought "Wow, this is the most generic black metal cover". So, what was my first thought about the music on the record? "It's probably generic black metal". And thank myself that I still checked it out because I was really wrong.

In Asylum Requiem is the 4th album of the British band Shadowflag. They name their music "poetic black metal". What we are dealing with here is a very ambitious black metal that is mystic, but not (like a lot of black metal) pessimistic. The atmosphere is rather lofty and epic. And all of it is fitted very well with the poetic lyrics. The record is a journey through beautiful guitar melodies, ambitious vocal performance and savage rhythm section. It belongs to the catchier and less raw side of black metal. It grows on you for a short time, but you'll need more time to fully embrace it.

I enjoyed all of the songs very much, but there are some of them that especially impressed me. One Beast One God delights with its drum work and interesting tempo. Also, the title phrase is very memorable. From Agony to Cold is a great song with an outstanding atmosphere. What intrigued me the most are the vocals, especially the ones in the background. I consider adding them as a great songwriting idea. And the last part of the record I would like to highlight is the ending song, To the Earth, to the Corpse, to the Seas. It's the climax of the whole album. An epic, progressive masterpiece.

Although I love raw sound in black metal, the clear one also can be amazing and In Asylum Requiem is an example of it. I especially love the guitar tone and how the stereophonics was used to make the listener feel the melodies touching him. Thinking about Shadowflag's inspirations, I realized that the record reminds me of early Satyricon, especially The Shadowthrone (maybe Shadowflag - Shadowthrone similarity is not a coincidence?) and also some other bands, elements of them. But still Shadowflag add motives that are only from themselves and this makes the album original.

In Asylum Requiem is an epic and poetic black metal journey that delights the listener in how ambitious and beautiful it is. Don't judge it by its cover. Live this journey for yourself.

Originally written for Tony Blackthrasher on Instagram and Facebook and The Metal Observer.