Ash Borer – Cold of Ages (2012)

As one of the most brutal USBM bands of these days, Ash Borer has carved a name for them with crushing and relentless Black Metal brutality with some Noise/Drone and weird FX’s to add to their music. Originally released in 2012 by Profound Lore Records, today we have the Double LP version of “Cold of Ages”, one of the most devastating records of 2012. Released by Pesanta Urfolk in extremely limited quantities, this is one release you must hear on vinyl.

Opening with the sheer brutality of “Descended Lamentations”, the band delivers a 16-minute song of epic proportions. The drumming is hellish, the riffing is ultra-powerful and the screams are phenomenal. The band achieves an extreme level of brutality that almost no USBM band has ever come close to. Our favorite track in this release is “Phantoms”, thanks to the sick opening riffs and the weird outro that the track features.

“Convict All Flesh” has a very enigmatic and slower opening just before delivering their full-force brutality once more. The band’s ability to carve incisive riffs paired with their excellent drumming really helps them build up a brutal wall of sound that is very crushing. The closer “Removed Forms” nicely brings this release to a close with another brutal onslaught with a couple of breathing interludes, only to end them with even more crushing power.

Overall, we loved “Cold of Ages” when it came out and it will totally kill on vinyl. Having seen the band live at Stella Natura 2012 and Roadburn 2013, we are witnesses to their brutality perfectly translating to their live shows. If you like your Black Metal roaring and thunderous, this is one album you cannot miss.

Label: Pesanta Urfolk (DLP re-release)

Release: May 27th, 2013

Genre: Black Metal

Country: USA