Band:	Necronoclast
Album:	Ashes
Style:	Black metal
Website:	http://www.necronoclast.com/
Release date:	February 22, 2011
A review by:	Troy Killjoy

01. Serpents
02. Looking Glass
03. Ashes
04. Ravenous
05. Ghostways
06. Veil Of Flies
07. Kajicnické ?aty

Black metal
United Kingdom
Moribund Records

Line-up on the CD:
Greg Edwards - vocals, all instruments


Multi-instrumentalist Greg Edwards formed Necronoclast back in 2003, steadily producing new material following the release of his first demo, Beyond The Light. After garnering label interest and rapport within the black metal scene, Necronoclast ventured into more hateful forms of straightforward black metal, ending up with Moribund Records and this, Edwards' fourth full-length release.

Ashes begins about as blasphemous as you'd expect a death-themed black metal album to begin: ferocious blastbeats, simplistic "necro" riffing, vicious shrieks and merciless growls, all mashed together to create a dark, disturbing atmosphere. The style of each song seldom changes; instead, Edwards focuses solely on illustrating the harshest aspects of black metal, and Ashes is the personification of success in that regard. However, the problem with that unrelenting abrasion is how thin it wears after 45 minutes of listening to such a laborious sound - it isn't completely headache-inducing, but the album lacks melody and variation (with the exception of the album's final track, "Kajicnické ?aty").

Of course, many can and will view the unequivocal path chosen by our one-man band member as a return to the old school sound instituted by the Norwegian originators (who don't need to be named for anyone with more than a day's worth of black metal research at this point). And while I have no qualms with that specific sound, Ashes is simply no Burzum or Transilvanian Hunger; whether or not it tries to be is almost entirely irrelevant, as the comparisons will be made regardless of its aim.

For a black metal album that's intent is to evoke feelings of rage, spite, hostility and the like, Ashes does the job. Edwards is a capable songwriter with a penchant for instilling in his audience a strong sense of negativity. However, for a black metal album that's intent is to demand the attention of its listener with its virtuosity and innovation, this album falls flat on its face.


Website: http://www.myspace.com/necronoclast