There are times when some bands prefer to do things in their own way, stay away from models that are hardly established, to try to do things in a different way. That's what many would do, but that is becoming a rare feature today, when doing again and again what was already done became a way of living for many. And the German trio ASPIDIUM is really opening a personal way for their music, as can be heard on "Harmagedon", their second album.

It's a personal way of playing Black/Death Metal (the order of the names matter in this case), because it's aggressive and violent, with an Old School ambience, but their songs are all permeated by an Avant-garde feeling, with different musical influences arising in some parts (as the percussive groove heard on "Gleichschritt Marsch"), a Post-Progressive/Avant-garde Black Metal touch in the vein of VED BUENS ENDE (pay attention during "Harmagedon"), and many other. But the album is coherent and truly nasty, blackened and charming in a personal way, something that shows that one one is doing such way, only them.

"Harmagedon" was recorded, mixed and mastered by Lukas Flarer on Sound Control Studio), and he brought a nasty and crude ambience for the songs, but in a way that every musical instrument can be heard and understood. Yes, it sounds clean, but bitter and raw at the same time, heavy and abrasive, but charming as well.

All the songs are really excellent, proof that a good name arose in Germany, and the Progressive Black Metal brutality of "Harmagedon" (very good bass guitar and drums parts), the contrasts or morbid moments with piledriving speed on the rhythms of "Welt vorm Kollaps", the aggressive and nasty outfit permeated with melodic moments of "Tödliche Begierde" and of "Scheinwelt", the introspective rough touch that is shown on "Elegie", and the Avant-garde kaleidoscope shown on "Monochrom" are the best shots on this album. The band could go further into their Avant-garde approach in many moments, but it's for a future release.

ASPIDIUM really shows a very good work on "Harmagedon", and the future is promising, if the band deal its cards with wisdom.