Releasing albums every 4 years, it is clear that Phrenelith have no problems taking their time and strategizing their next move. Their sound has always had a solid foot in old-school waters though; their debut, Desolate Endscape, was basically a love letter to the dark metal gods of old. Even though the Danish group was developing a doomy, slightly technical sound, it wasn’t until the release of Chimaera that Phrenelith really started to cook some deliciously addictive music. With a more technical, brutal and definitely darker sound, Phrenelith was certainly growing. With Ashen Womb, that growth has reached its logical peak.
The artwork is pretty telling. The cataclysmic nature of the artwork showcases the force behind every heavy riff this band unleashes. The morbid melodies that hit the listener on the opener “Noemata” conjure images not unlike those of the hellish and mighty Immolation. In fact, the legendary Close To A World Below serves as a great point of comparison with a sound only matched by Phrenelith. The drums have a similar bone-crushing tone and cyclical structure, while the riffs have a warm sound as if they were played behind a curtain of fire. Even the monstrous vocals have a similar tone to Ross Dolan’s.
There are some interesting ambient moments hidden throughout the album, like on the interlude “Sphageion”, but it is clear that the band wishes to stay within the grounds of the traditional death metal cult. When the result is this good, who are we to deny these offerings?
