Drown In Ash is the third full-length release from Irish Trio Eternal Helcaraxe and is the long-awaited follow-up to the simply brilliant In Times Of Desperation. Drown In Ash is a worthy successor, its immediacy tempered by its layers and deep thought. An album that seeks to address the very nature of depression, its lack of hope and loss.
The riff and mid-section of In Dark Woods and dreams are simply excellent, the reward of gradual build-up and dynamics, the journey of bleak isolationism complete and harrowing in its despair, and its conclusion are beautiful yet melancholic.
Eternal Helcaraxe excels in challenges, delivering music in its purest state, an emotive one based on feeling, from the opening speed of ‘’Cease’’ and its terrific riffing, ‘’Ice cold winds’’ is raw unbridled fury in its execution Praetorian delivers such thoughts as ‘’ From feeling everything and nothing all at once’’ with utter conviction and honesty
Drown In Ash is not simply another excellent black metal record where such ideas and expressions are allowed to roam free with foundations based on speed, aggression, and power. It is also a journey of shattered hopes and despair “None of it Mattered” the piano thoughtful and tinged with sorrow is no less aggrieved than the savagery that is “Where Dead things Roam Free’’ and its clean vocals.
Withered Strands of Existence’ Is simply superb, the coalescence of emotion and the hauntingly beautiful merged with the aggressive and brilliant dynamic riffing.
Rich, honest and utterly uncompromising Eternal Helcaraxe have created another masterwork that is restless within the genre and pushes its foundations to the limit. Black metal that is primal pure and disconnected from any preconceived notions. An Expression of art and the fragility of the human condition. Highly recommended.
Eternal Helcaraxe: Facebook
Release Year: 2022
Label: Naturmacht Productions
Category: Album
Country: Ireland
Reviewed by Sparky
