Band:	Asinhell
Album:	Impii Hora
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	September 29, 2023
Guest review by:	Blackcrowe

01. Fall Of The Loyal Warrior
02. Inner Sancticide
03. Island Of Dead Men
04. Trophies
05. The Ultimate Sin
06. Wolfpack Laws
07. Desert Of Doom
08. Pyromantic Scryer
09. Impii Hora
10. Føj For Helvede

Ungodly Hour.

Ahhh, those power trios! Once a romantic and proven way to become a great band, it was a regular practice in the past. Musicians seem to have forgotten how raw and original a band can sound as a trio. Just think of early examples like Motörhead, Venom, and Celtic Frost—just to name a few. Over the years, this approach has almost disappeared, and is rarely seen these days.

Somebody once said that Volbeat never sounded better than here, but there’s no real point of comparison; Volbeat’s music has nothing in common with this except for Michael Poulsen, who is also the mastermind behind Asinhell.

Asinhell’s debut album, Impii Hora, is a chainsaw roar of homage to death metal’s golden era. Helmed by Michael Poulsen, this old-school death-thrash metal project draws clear inspiration from legends like Entombed, Bolt Thrower, Autopsy and Slayer. It’s a no-frills, 40-minute gut punch that delivers exactly what it promises: a riff-laden blast from the past with enough grit and conviction to carve its own identity.

From the moment “Fall Of The Loyal Warrior” kicks in, it’s clear that Asinhell is here to grind bones. The sound is sharp, yet retains that classic thrash-death metal flavor. Impii Hora boasts excellent production, with a near-perfect mix and instrumental sound. Poulsen’s guitar tone screams with buzzsaw distortion, ripping through tight, groove-heavy riffs. Marc Grewe delivers outstanding vocal performances, his growls steeped in menace and clarity, the style sounding somewhere in between black and death metal. Meanwhile, Morten Toft Hansen keeps the attack relentless, blending straightforward blast beats with dynamic, stomping rhythms.

The title track, “Impii Hora”, is an immediate standout, combining a savage main riff with an anthemic midsection that showcases the band’s ability to shift gears without losing momentum. “Pyromantic Scryer” brings a slightly more melodic touch, featuring an eerie, almost hypnotic riff that contrasts beautifully with Grewe’s guttural ferocity. The closer, “Føj For Helvede,” offers a grim, almost blackened tone, delivering a slower, doom finish that lingers long after the final note fades.

The lyrics are steeped in death metal tradition, exploring themes of war, damnation, and apocalyptic visions. Tracks like “Island Of Dead Men” and “Desert Of Doom” transport listeners to desolate, brutal landscapes, while “Wolfpack Laws” invokes primal, predatory violence.

Impii Hora is unapologetic in its purpose: to resurrect brutal, groovy death metal. This is a tribute to the genre’s roots, executed with passion and precision. Poulsen’s love for death metal shines through every riff, while Grewe’s veteran presence elevates the material with unrelenting intensity.

In my opinion, Impii Hora was the greatest record of 2023, yet it was sacrilegiously ignored by most. Although the band was a power trio in the studio, their live performances feature additional members to maintain the sound’s intensity. Still, I loved their raw studio sound—something I hadn’t felt in many years.