Logo: Folkingrimm Art
Bulletpoints:
2ⁿᵈ album by the artistically high-quality German act
Longing songwriting of the highest aesthetics
Top musicality meets striking catchiness
Artist Info-Page:
2nd Album of the great German band!
Overwhelming Epic Skaldic Metal !
Superior art at the highest artistic level!
Official album release date:
May 13, 2022
ASH OF ASHES • Epic Skaldic Metal
"Into Eternity"
Official Lyric Video • Feat. Lars Jensen of Myrkgrav
Premiere: March 25, 2022
YouTube-Link: https://youtu.be/ivTpJy7cJnc
Production:
Skaldir • ASH OF ASHES
Singer Morten on the thematic content of "Into Eternity":
"The song is about the narrator's thoughts and memories when saying goodbye to a deceased friend. In addition, it echoes the question of what will remain of us in the future, after our passing."
ASH OF ASHES
Skaldir 2022 • Thomas Skroch
LINE-UP:
Skaldir • Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Bass
Morten • Lyrics, Vocals
Sethras • (Live)Guitars
Stryx • (Live)Drums
GUESTS:
Lars Jensen
Christopher Rakkestad
Rúnahild Kvitbjarkan
Thomas Clifford
With the 2018 debut "Down The White Waters", singer, guitarist and composer Skaldir attracted attention across genres. The triumphant EPIC SKALDIC METAL of ASH OF ASHES could even book several media top rankings worldwide.
The fact that the exceptional aesthete from Germany was so successful right from the start with his successor band to HEL, founded in 2014, was primarily due to the captivatingly artistic musicality of this unique album.
The necessary time, which the talented maestro left himself for the now appearing successor, fully benefits every single piece on "Traces" without exception.
Everything should be as accomplished as equally natural and organic - as the wonderfully picturesque artwork of the talented Norwegian Christopher Rakkestad clearly shows. A feast for tasteful eyes.
Artwork • "Traces"
Christopher Rakkestad
Official release: May 13, 2022
TRACKLIST:
01. Beyond White Waters (instrumental) 02:55
02. Under the Midnight Sun 05:34
03. Into Eternity (feat. Lars Jensen) 05:20
04. The Eternal Traveller 04:41
05. Evermore 04:35
06. Vem kan segla förutan vind (trad., feat. Thomas Clifford) 02:17
07. A Lion Guards Our Names 04:11
08. Southbound 05:19
09.To Those Long Forgotten (feat. Rúnahild & Christopher Rakkestad) 05:13
total: 40:26 min.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Markus Skroch @ Kalthallen Studios
Musically, the gloriously radiant path of noble and illustrious epic moves forward, even if it is purposefully even more varied - especially in various tempos.
"Traces" delights all senses with such finely melodically arranged and highly catchy 'Storyteller Metal' that it is simply magnificent! Besides Skaldir and his well-tried comrade-in-arms Morten as lyricist and co-vocalist, live drummer Stryx and live guitarist Sethras can also be heard on the new masterpiece.
As a guest vocalist, the excellently integrated Lars Jensen of Myrkgrav joins the brilliant song "Into Eternity" with his fabulously distinctive voice for even more multiple sprawling goose bumps - Jensen sounds so exquisite, as if he was born only for this.
In the last track "To Those Long Forgotten" there are two guest singers due to the different roles in the song lyrics:
Mystik Folk spiritualist Rúnahild, who was already heard on the Hardanger fiddle on the debut album, sings the female vocal part, while cover artist Christopher Rakkestad (Elvarhøi) takes the male role. This metal ballad is about parents mourning their child killed in war. Emotionally delivered, this lyrical theme, though unplanned, has now become more relevant than ever.
Lyrically, the second album of ASH OF ASHES deals with the inevitably moving theme 'journey'.
The lyrical topics on "Traces" range from the courageous departure up to the end - including the traces along with memory that ultimately remains in the traveler until the end of his days. Historical and mythological elements are interwoven in an exciting way, which guarantees timelessly entertaining stories. (Markus Eck)
Follow ASH OF ASHES with these links and add them to your playlists on Spotify, Deezer etc.:
DISCOGRAPHY:
2018 • Down The White Waters • Full-length
2022 • Traces • Full-length
MEDIA FEEDBACK
Previous album "Down The White Waters":
100 / 100
"A great album that really sounds like a whole band accomplishment but is more the music and idea of a man with a good friendship that led this brilliant project to life. An awesome logo and a cover art reminding about the Vikings sending their dead ones to the sea. Masterpiece of emotions …"
(The Metal Mag)
10 / 10
"... in addition to the strong songwriting skills here are the very good clear vocals, the well contrasting growls of Morten and the extremely versatile instrumentation of the album ... rounded off is the overall picture by the great production which leaves no wish unfulfilled, and the harmonious cover artwork ... clearly one of the best albums and THE new discovery 2018!"
(Reaperzine)
5 / 5
"… a real gem of the genre, away from any conventions ... everything fits here: performance, production, visual framework ... the mentioned figureheads, the founding fathers of Pagan/Viking Metal would be proud of what Skaldir and Morten have raised with ASH OF ASHES and their debut album 'Down The White Waters' ... a masterful example of how magical music can be when highly talented artists simply let a project happen with total dedication."
(Stormbringer)
5 / 5
"… majestically uplifting, Nordic-oriented Viking Music in the Metal garment ... those who like FALKENBACH, BATHORY and the likes just a little bit, will be drawn into the maelstrom of ASH OF ASHES ... a masterpiece ... Quorthon would definitely be proud about such disciples or musical descendants from Germany."
(Metal Underground AT)
9,5 / 10
"… I am (...) heavily impressed ... ASH OF ASHES are resurrected like the Phoenix from the ashes of Hel ... a production that comes across crystal clear, does the rest ... reminds me very much of Bathory in the epic phase ... could be from Quorthon ... you hear at each corner of 'Down The White Waters', the emotions and heartbeat of a talented musician who has created with passion and hard work something that makes (...) lasting impact. Thanks for that!"
(Time For Metal)
93 / 100
"… one of the most original albums of 2018 … ASH OF ASHES let us know less famous Germanic tales and legends, as well as acquainting us with the Anglo-Saxon world … additionally, its music quality is excellent … in perfect harmony with the clear voice, violins, fiddles, harps."
(European Folk Metal)
90 / 100
"… a pleasant experience … solid Pagan/Folk Metal with elements in common with both Bathory and Týr, along with unique elements that set ASH OF ASHES apart from both styles … great example of an effective, exceptional debut album …"
(Metal Archives)
9 / 10
"ASH OF ASHES do not hesitate and grab the stars with their debut 'Down The White Waters'. The album is so surprising and overwhelmingly good that the big labels should tear themselves for future releases!"
(Der Hörspiegel)
9 / 10
"When a title is called 'Flames On The Horizon', then the experts ASH OF ASHES bring Bathory epic from all pores ... one of the most honest but most also poignant Pagan Metal albums released in recent years ... real Epic Skaldic Metal."
(Heavy Metal DE)
9 / 10
"… filled to the rim with epic, symphonic Metal … the tracks are almost instantly memorable with hooky riffs, harmonies and vocal lines that stay with you … each track here stands on it’s own … I can’t find a weak spot on the album … solid song writing, great musicianship and lastly, a killer mix and production … I think this album has immense crossover appeal as it is not your typical 'Viking Metal' album … it transcends genres … and is just a great Metal album."
(Folk Metal NL)
9 / 10
"… reminding in some parts Bathory or Falkenbach … quite good, all nine songs plus outro flow free with great melodic and intense moments … including an instrumental, 'Springlar' … the last four songs relate the story of Wayland, an heroic legend … definitively a project to follow!"
(Sounds From Apocalypse)
4 / 5
"… in the great tradition of Falkenbach where guitars are melodic, catchy, but they can also move towards aggression or slowness … we also find an atmospheric side to the Old Vintersorg with slower tempos … the folk side is really present … instruments like the Nyckelharpa, which is close to the wheel … as well as the Hardanger fiddle … ASH OF ASHES offers us a nice discovery with 'Down The White Waters' … a group that has mastered its subject with its Black sounds and traditional music."
(United Rock Nations)
etc.
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