Winter has officially launched its campaign of death in the lands of the Northern Hemisphere. We mark this celestial transition by digging up another forgotten classic from out of the snow and ice. An unusual Death Metal album from France that bears the aesthetic sensibilities of a more Nordic adventure, Asgard’s ‘To a Golden Age’ can be most succinctly described as ‘Viking Death Metal’. This was nothing new at the time of release in 1996; by then, Unleashed had already integrated Viking themes into their signature style of Swedish Death Metal. With Asgard, we have a more naturalistic approach to these themes. Somewhat inauthentic but nonetheless epic and folky guitar-work propels endless fleets of warships across the stormy seas in a dramatic clash of Metallica’s ‘Ride the Lightning’ and ‘Master of Puppets’ with the blasting, melodic savagery of ‘Blod Draum‘, including the Norwegian Black Metal elements that Molested work into their own sound. In this sense, the album is not unlike the more advanced Greek Black Metal bands such as Rotting Christ, if the Heavy Metal-inspired melodic progressions were superimposed onto a more updated and impulsive, Death Metal sense of composition. Due to the fairly flat production, there is an unbecoming lack of weight to the instrumentalism, but the epic scope of these songs and their competent arrangements still triumphantly channel relentless barbarism, brooding tension and reflective wisdom in compact odes to the times of battle when gods and men fought for the nine worlds.
Filed under: Death Metal Album of the Week — Tags: Black Metal, Death Metal, French Black Metal, Pagan Metal, Speed Metal, Viking Death Metal — ObscuraHessian @ December 22, 2009 23:38 — Comments (6)
Wow viking death metal…Very interesting mix of death and epic metal)
Comment by PingOfDeath — February 2, 2010 @ 11:55
It’s also interesting to note the manner in which the bass guitar is being played, resembling the deep, oscillating sound of a Munnharpe. That’s one way to do it, if you don’t have the actual instrument like Molested on Blod Draum!
Comment by ObscuraHessian — February 2, 2010 @ 18:16
I was just listening to this underrated classic last week. Great to see it getting some well deserved praise. I used to be in contact with with bassist/vocalist Xavier Bertrand (via snail mail) many years ago. A very talented individual that (as far as I know) is no longer involved in music. I always felt this album had a ROTTING CHRIST meets AGRESSOR vibe to it. Anyone that likes this album should also check out their 2nd release as well. An EP called “Chamane” that features Xavier with a new line-up, better production, and an even more epic style.
Comment by Wolfhammer — May 30, 2010 @ 06:14
The ‘Chamane’ EP was a disappointing and far less epic experience than this album. Gone are the ancient folk melodies and varied atmospheres; the band instead fall in line with all the cliches of late 90′s Death Metal. I have word that Xavier has a new band who’ve produced the soundtrack for some independent movie, but no more details than that.
Comment by ObscuraHessian — May 30, 2010 @ 17:30
When I think of the cliches late 90′s death metal, it seems the trend was to be as “ultra brutal” as possible and this tendency still continues on many levels to this day. Bands like Dying Fetus, Deeds Of Flesh, and Devourment became very popular. The ‘Chamane’ EP sounds more like epic death/thrash to me. In any case, I really like both Asgard releases. Great to hear Xavier is back to making music again.
Comment by Wolfhammer — May 31, 2010 @ 06:03
[...] now enthroned within golden halls inhabited by the likes of Unleashed and the previously hailed Asgard, as warriors of Viking Death Metal. Deriving their sound largely from the Swedish scene which [...]
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