ASPHODELOS is one of the three subdivisions of Hades, or the equivalent of hell in Greek Mythology, but it is also the name of a German band releasing its first full length album called, "The Five Rivers of Erebos" which is the band's main accomplishment after its two first EPs, called "And Death Shall Reign" and "To the Grounds of Everwhite," released in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

I enjoy the way the guitar follows the vocals in order for the whole ensemble to become a unity of sound and brutal harmony and how the songs are comprised in the manner of a symphony with different elements in the background giving a fluent array of colors and intonations specially in the opening track with all the river and lament effects causing an interesting repercussion in the core of the song.

The guitar riffs in songs like "Carnage" which is an energetic bomb of a song, are meaningful and sturdy with enough length and structure for the listener to enjoy and become acquainted with the best parts of the songs and the different sonorous elements included in them. The voice of Stephan Eichler accomplishes a tone and cadence that seems to emerge from Tartarus itself, providing the songs on this album with a sense of fulfillment and brawn that are not always obtained when it comes to singing, or better said, growling death metal lyrics.

The flow of talented and well versed musicians that has emerged from Germany is not also a gift but also a responsibility for any new band coming out of the country that spawned such great thrash acts as KREATOR and TANKARD, and for these Jena natives this seems to be more a motivation than a limitation, that is why this debut album I to me proof enough that ASPHODELOS carries the banner of German Metal with pride, and their induction into the Metal Temple will be well received by all its legionaries.