Published: May 16, 2015

Featuring Barre Gambling from Candlelight artist Daylight Dies, Atten Ash is a trio offering us here their debut album released in digital format by the band 3 years ago, in 2012, and picked up by Hypnotic Dirge and re-released in Digipack CD format this year, a very good decision by the hardworking Canadian label. The 8 tracks featured here, totaling 50 minutes, are a deep, emotional, mesmerizing descent in a depressing and nostalgic atmosphere. Stylistically speaking Atten Ash reminds me of the UK Doom Death scene of the '90's, mid to end '90's that is, especially Anathema and Paradise Lost, but with a fresh edge to it, a fresh and interesting Melodic Doom Death Metal complete with excellent clean male vocals, comprehensive growling vocals, slow, doomy guitar riffs supported by melodic, ethereal leads, and a rhythm section that is both subtle and powerful. All in all I think I've listened to it at least 10 times already and I'm not bored yet, not even one bit, and that doesn't happen often nowadays, so it's my duty to recommend it to you, too, and to declare myself satisfied by this excellent, ellegant debut album.