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Band: Madness Of The Night
Album title: The Asgarda
Release date: 29 November 2013
Label: Massacre Records
Tracklisting:
01. Oppression
02. The State Of Madness
03. Theatre Of Life
04. We Are Gothrockers And We Don‘t Care
05. She Is The Demon
06. Terrorroom
07. Voices Of The People
08. Jävla Zigenare
09. Stand Up
10. Jephanie
11. We Are Gothrockers And We Don‘t Care (Chamber Mix)
Such an oustanding mix of power, anger, passion, emotion and atmosphere like this album holds wasn't heard for a long time. The Asgarda is a journey that not only bewitches with its amazing music but also with a message that it holds. Not to mention one of the most captivating and powerful female vocal performances that I've had the opportunity to listen lately. Ok, Madness Of The Night is a duo coming from Sweden and this is their debut, the members are Daniel Dante, better known from gothic metallers Soulgrinder and singer Abir Blackshadow from Beirut, Lebanon, but she now lives in Sweden. The Asgarda brings a complex compound of gothic rock and dark wave with a big impact from metal and also classical music, but not only...
It opens with heavy riffs, almost doom metalic, atmospheric song "Oppression" that blew me away at the very first listen. As soon as Abir starts to sing you'll notice that this girl is far away from many female singers, you can perfectly feel the passion in her voice, such a powerful voice, sometimes singing with a punkish attitude and in the very next line she comes up with and rigorous operatic voice. Songs like "The State Of Madness", new hymn for gothic rockers "We Are Gothrockers And We Don‘t Care", "Terrorroom" and "Voices Of The People" have a strong punk rock character, like if Sex Pistols or Dead Kennedys had a bastard child with The Sisters Of Mercy and this child was raised by Faith And The Muse and Paradise Lost. Daniel behind all the instruments and Arabic witch Abir, really put their guts out on those. Just listen to the final part of "We Are Gothrockers..." and you'll get what I mean. Not only a lot of energy, but also the sole compositions of the songs are breathtaking, everything is so dynamic, without boring moments, still don't expect any techical exagerations with unnecessary solos, but well executed straight, in your face thrown eruption of feelings. Then add also some socially critical lyrics and the picture is complete.
Then there are songs like the haunting "She Is The Demon", where the atmosphere reminds me to the latest creations of Monica Richards, I can't get past the feeling that Dead Can Dance were also a huge inspiration for the two and you can hear this in songs like "Theatre Of Life", "Javla Zigenare", "Stand Up" and "Jephania", where lyrics in Arabic language certainly add a peculiar character. Fans of Nightwish will be blown away by the beautiful balladic "Jephania", in this one you can hear also Daniel singing, amazing ambiances and such a gentle sounds that melts your soul. Then there's a darker mix of "We Are Gothrockers And We Don‘t Care", where rock elements have given ground to classical instruments. Outstanding!
As you might have noticed on cover artwork also many tracks have a special Middle Eastern feeling that blends so well together with every before mentioned thing. Guitar riffs are mostly made of typical gothic rock and metal elements, then there are amazing synths that make a great atmosphere and I can't forget about the mesmerizing piano touches and other sounds that make on this record such an unbelievable wall of sound, mostly because of impeccable production. The order of the songs on this album is also very deliberate, each one seems to be at the right place, so you can easily get through the whole album without getting distracted. I don't know if Madness Of The Night intend to do some live shows, but I'm more than sure that those songs might be real killers when played on stage. This is without doubt one of the albums that will compete for the title album of the year!
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 9/10
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