ASHEN were formed in 2020 and they are from Perth, Australia. The Death Metal band released one EP and one full-length album so far. Their sophomore album is “Leave The Flesh Behind” and it was mixed and mastered by Marco Tervonen (SARCATOR; THE CROWN; TRUTH DEVOID) at Studio MT, Sweden. The album has a length of about 38 minutes, and it was released via US Death Metal specialists Redefining Darkness Records. The opening track of the album starts with a short, tension-building and cinematic intro, transitioning into powerful guitar riffs introducing the bone-chilling main melody. “Devourer” is a track at a measured tempo with a sluggish rhythm. The vocals are growls mainly varying around the deep end of the guttural range with a few higher pitched screams. The guitar riffs are devastating throughout the track, and the focus is put on the blood-freezing melodic framework. The lead guitar solo is not very technical but fits perfectly into the sound of the track. “Devourer” has been released as video, and the YouTube link is provided below. “Ancestral Gate” starts with an orchestral pre-lude leading into another grim delivery. After some short exchanges at mid-tempo, the track transitions into a verse part at blistering pace with plenty of chaos in the riffing, drumming, and vocals. The chorus parts switch back to mid-tempo, and in principle there are constant switches between crazy pace, mid-tempo, and measured tempo, all based on the main spine-chilling melody.

“Aeon” has an atmospheric start with the guitars, leading into grim instrumental part at a measured tempo. The melodies are orientally inspired and the tempo switches to a short episode at crazy pace during the verse part. The guitar riffing is punishing, playful, and it is accompanied by the double-bass. The vocals are versatile and there are a few tonal shifts towards higher pitched growls. The title track starts with devastating guitar riffs and crunching basslines, leading into the verse part at measured tempo. The growls are deep-lying but with some higher pitched screams. “Leave The Flesh Behind” is very aggressive and intense in the riffing and the basslines with some added blast-beats. On top of it sits a blood-freezing melodic framework, that gives the track an additional layer. It is one of the album highlights.“Void Within” is another track that starts at measured tempo and a sluggish rhythm and then transitions into insanity and craziness. The main riff is driving the track forward, while in the background there is a mixture of blast-beats, double-bass, growls and screams, all led by the overarching grim melodies. “Ageless” starts at mid-tempo with a simple and direct riff. During the verse part, there are subtle changes in tempo and rhythm. The melodies are spine-chilling once again. The monotonicity of the main riff contributes to some extra darkness. “Ageless” is one of the few tracks with a short but contributing lead guitar solo. The introductory part of “Reincarnate” is probably one of the most chilling moments on the entire album. The track sounds like being made in Hell. It is a frantic track with blast-beats, screams, deep growls, and punishing riffs. “Reincarnate” is one of my favourites on the album.

“Infinite Sea” starts with devastating guitar riffs at a measured tempo, leading into the verse part. The growls are mainly deep-lying with little tonal shifts apart from some occasional screams. The partially thunderous riffs are supported by a lot of double-bass drumming, while the melodies have some oriental inspirations. “Severed” keeps going with the grim delivery. Introduced by the strings and brass, the guitar riffs are punishing with twists and turns in tempo and rhythm. The melodies have slight traces of melancholy and are spine-chilling throughout. The album finishes with “Blood Offering”. Ater a short instrumental part driven by the guitars, the track develops into a mid-tempo affair with some slight changes in tempo and rhythm. It is a more aggressive track with direct guitar riffs and more screams than deep growls. Despite all the aggression, it is a track delivering bone-chilling melodies and a good way to end the album. ASHEN offer their best album to date. “Leave The Flesh Behind” comes out from the abyss. It is a blood-freezing delivery, driven by devastating guitar riffs, crushing basslines, bone-chilling melodies, and deep growls with higher pitched screams when needed. The album is well produced. Death Metal is dark, but “Leave The Flesh Behind” is Hell.