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Good old depressive black metal! A genre with so much potential, sadly squandered by an avalanche of basement dwelling wannabe Xasthurs. Danish band Afsky entered the scene in 2015 with the release of their eponymous EP, which did little to elevate the genre beyond that which had already been established. Now, three years later, main man Ole Pedersen Luk returns with Afsky’s debut album Sorg. My how the times have changed.
The first significant shift, and huge win for Afsky, is that Sorg journeys far beyond the realms of standard DSBM. In fact, the album would be better described as an atmospheric black metal record with depressive elements, particularly showcased in the vocal performance. The expansion of sound and vision allows Afsky to offer up a much more compelling and engrossing sound across the albums 48 minute run time. Coupled with a dramatic improvement in songwriting and a focus on crafting dynamic compositions, Sorg is a breath of fresh air in the genre.
Repetition has always been a critical component in both depressive and atmospheric black metal, a fact that is not lost on Luk. However, instead of simply repeating the same riff for hours, Luk starts with a base motif and layers and develops his riffs, adding new textures which propel the songs forward and suck listeners into his well-developed soundscapes. The clean production, by DSBM standards at least, allows Afsky’s compositional development and beautiful layering to really shine through. Coupled with the albums organic sound, the production provides the record’s seven tracks ample breathing room and highlights Luk’s compositional and instrumental development.
Afsky’s songwriting growth is demonstrated on a track like “Sorte vand”, with the opening riff injecting an air of hope, before allowing the sorrow devour the listener, all without any of the saccharine aftertaste many post-black metal bands leave in their wake. By injecting a little bit of light, Afsky makes their darkness all the more profound and impactful, a trick many Depressive and Atmospheric Black bands could learn from. Another standout is “Vættekongen” where a folky intro gives way to a gripping atmospheric black metal composition that reminds of Taake’s early, harsher sound. On top of this, Luk lays down an excellent vocal performance, perfectly balancing both sorrow and anger in every devastating rasp. The variation in riffs, compelling drumming and powerful vocals ensure that even nine minute songs like “Stjernerne” feel half their length, always a good sign for an album.
If there is one complaint, it falls down to the fact that the majority of the album plods along at the same mid-paced speed. While this isn’t noticeable on individual tracks, for old farts like myself who enjoy listening to entire albums all the way through, it does somewhat diminish the overall impact of the album. With a few tempo shifts added to the already drastically improved song compositions, Afsky could be a force to be reckoned with. Minor gripes aside, this really is a compelling addition to both the depressive and atmospheric black metal worlds and is well worth your time if you have any interest in either genre.