Asgrauw – Oosprong

Band: Asgrauw
Title: Oosprong
Label: Zwaertgevegt & Hidden Marly Production
Release date: October 31st, 2024
Country: Netherlands
Format reviewed: High-Quality Digital Promo

What would the inhabitants of one of the oldest cities ever, Eridu, have thought over 6,000 years ago if they knew that a Dutch Black Metal band would transform their mythology into an album? The storyline of the latest Asgrauw album is an incredible tale that begins on the planet Nibiru, a name used by the Babylonians for the planet Jupiter. There, a struggle reigns between Alalu and Anu, resulting in Alalu being forced to flee and crashing onto Eridu, the Earth.

Ultimately, it revolves around them creating us, the Apada, embedding in our DNA a drive towards total destruction of our planet. And in this way, we arrive in the present, where “bread and circuses” have been replaced by money and social media.

Throughout this complex story, summarized in eight tracks, we encounter familiar figures from the Black Metal scene, such as Marduk, Nergal, and Enki. The Black Metal scene has never shied away from incorporating elements of Sumerian and Babylonian mythology.

Asgrauw manages to capture all of this brilliantly on their album, presenting us with a sort of origin story of ourselves, humanity. This is all delivered in Dutch, narrated by Kaos and Vaal, who, with their two different vocal styles, lend the album an extra dimension.

An album that not only sounds rock solid but also stands as one, with a fantastic production that is powerfully supported by Batr’s drumming. Despite standout tracks like “Kosmische Strijd,” “Apada,” and especially “Heimwee,” Oorsprong has no weak songs, and this history lesson on our origins deserves a place in your collection.

Asgrauw continues to surprise, especially with this new album.

And, like every first Monday of the month, the album closes with the air raid siren, something we Dutch know all too well… 9/10 by Consanguineus

Band
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Label – Zwaertgevegt
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Label – Hidden Marly Production
Official website
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9/10  Epic Storm
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