Monday 31 July 2017

DVNE - Asheran (Album Review)


Release date: July 28th 2017. Label: Wasted State Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Band Members:

Victor Vicart - Guitar, Vocals, Keys
Dan Barter - Guitar & Vocals
Dudley Tait - Drums
Allan Paterson - Bass

Guest Vocals

Jenni Sneddon - Vocals (Edenfall)

Asheran – Tracklisting

The Crimson Path
Viridian Bloom
Thirst
Descent of the Asheran
Sunset's Grace
Rite of the Seven Mournings
Edenfall
Scion

Review

To achieve something new and vibrant in the world of metal is hard. Yet DVNE clearly succeed with just that in their latest effort Asheran. Songs layered with vocal harmonies, growls and heavy down-tuned instrumentation makes this an instant win.

The vocal delivery is something that truly sets DVNE apart from other similar outfits. While it's hard to not draw comparisons to the trio of singers in Mastodon, Victor and Dan never tread on old ground. High soaring choruses and serene verses only to be followed with an aggressive growl as seen in Viridian Bloom is what makes this music an absolute joy to listen too. Diversity and dynamics is key, and DVNE knows this.

The album is produced in a way that it easily holds its own when held next to other hallmarks in the genre. No easy feat, but the clarity and presence of the drums along with crisp guitars and a low rumbling bass makes Asheran pure sonic bliss.

High points for me is the bad-ass mix, highlighted when the band slows down and clears up, such as in tracks like Thirst and Edenfall. This is where DVNE is at their best and make it clear that their years of efforts are paying off in their songwriting.

It's impossible to not drop your jaw at some of the riffs contained within Asheran. Rite of the Seven Mournings deliver a black metal inspired frenzied dissonant flurry of chords, soon to be followed by what can only be described as an epic bridge where they slow down and bring total YOB-worship to the forefront.

The number of times where i sat back in my chair listening to Asheran, wanting to get up and clap my hands after a song ended is embarrassingly high.

Had I not heard Elder's Reflections of a Floating World before hearing this, I probably would have crowned this my album of the year. Mastodonian post-metal/sludge/doom at it's finest, listen to it at all costs.

Words by Simon Ohlsson

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