Search - Asmegin :: Hin Vordende Sod & So

Oh man this is the best

Armont Ugatan | Bothell, WA United States | 05/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It took me a couple listens to get used to, but now I love it and it's one of my favourite metal CD's. The music sounds like the picture on the cover, if that's any help. The vocals are awesome too, they've got death and black vocals as well as a female vocalist who also screams in a couple places, and some trollish ones and choir/clean/chant stuff, it's really really good; I highly recommend it."

One of the best debut albums I've ever heard!

A Kat Person | Bay Area | 09/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just adding to the rave reviews; if this is just a debut, I wonder what else these amazing musicians are capable of! I do hope they don't make us wait too much longer to hear what's next! The musicianship here is awesome; the range of instruments and vocals is amazing. There's black and death vocals on the heavy side, plus great clean male vocals and beautifully dreamy female ones. A song can go from brutal melodic death in one moment to a bouncy, heavenly folk sound in the next; but these transitions are all done with perfect, harmonious fluidity!



Also, I just want to add that the CD booklet is also very nicely done, a lot better than what you often get with a CD. There's really really good artwork on most pages, along with nice photos of the band members.



Addendum: It is unusual for me to do this, but after months of listening to this CD, I had to *emphasize* how amazing it is. It has grown into one of my favorite albums of all time. On the first few listens, the whole CD was good but there were a few stand-out songs. Now, nothing stands out especially because *EVERYTHING IS PERFECT*. I loved it the first time I listened to it, and since then it has grown on me even more. The musicianship on this CD is at a level where it gives the impression that these fellows went over every note with a fine-toothed comb until it was exactly right!



Admittedly, most of my reviews for CD's are 5 stars, but that is only because I generally don't review something unless it's SO GOOD that it moves me to share my impression of the greatness of the album with the rest of the world. That is why I have so few reviews lower than 5 stars; lesser albums simply don't inspire me to review them very often. I also have to add that I generally don't expect *perfection* from a 5-star album. I always allow for a couple of songs that are not-so-good, whatever, because usually absolute perfection is simply not possible!



But once in a while, a CD comes along that is just so surprisingly perfect... That it goes ABOVE AND BEYOND my expectations of what a 5-star album should be... that I wish I could add on more stars! Well, Asmegin's debut certainly fits that description. Really, I recommend this to any metalhead. Listen carefully, and your appreciation of what music can be will be lifted to levels beyond previous comprehension..."

Excellent mix of black metal and Norwegian folk

Matthew Schwarz | Bridgewater, nj United States | 11/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my familiarity with the somewhat small folk-metal scene, the main styles are Finnish humpa-(i.e.polka-)metal bands like Finntroll and Korpiklaani, and the Celtic-metal of Cruachan and Eluveitie. Asmegin take a different path - hailing from Norway, their folky inluences come from that tradition - it kind of has a gypsy-ish violin sound to me at time. It's not as catchy and fun as the bouncy polka-metal of Finland, but it's alternately (and at times simultaneously) heavy and beautiful. Part of their wonderful sound comes from some great choral vocals. Overall a haunting and powerful statement. For those not really into the heavier black/death metal sounds, this is some pretty heavy stuff but also has enough variety and musicality that overall I'd rate it as wonderful music. I'm thrilled they're finally coming out with their second album this winter!"