### Asphyx: Asphyx

#### 19/05/08 || Daemonomania

As you’ve assuredly read elsewhere on the site, Asphyx is a pretty well-known and quite respected death metal band with major hints of doom that have broken up and reformed more than the evil Terminator in “T2”. Or the Wolfman in “Monster Squad”, for that matter.

When original, later, current, and perhaps future vocalist Martin van Drunen left in the early 90’s, the Ass-pixers needed a new singer and found one in Ron van Pol (the “van” surname was deeply important to them, apparently). And that’s where most people find a sticking point with this album. While every other aspect of the Netherlands Neanderthals’ core sound is in place, the vocals are less raspy and more gaspy. I’d characterize them as a breathy, kinda weak low growl – but that comes standard on a lot of dooth metal discs. By the way, I just made up the term dooth metal, since typing death/doom or doom/death or whatever the fuck is no fun.

I’ve read a few reviews that say the vocals kill “Asphyx,” but I tend to disagree. While it ain’t something that I listen to every day, there are some absolutely classic tracks on here well worthy of the band’s lofty reputation. For example, “Initiation into the ossuary” has two elements you’ll never hear in a song intro…monk chants and slowly ringing bells! AMAZING! Overused samples aside, this is a slow, methodical, and monstrous track that would give Ahab a run for their blubber. And speaking of intros, “Prelude to an unhonored funeral” is a good one. Plus they’ve got an almost instrumental track at the end entitled “Thoughts of an atheist” (these thoughts include; “there is no god,” “religious people are really obnoxious,” and “I love death metal”) that kicks a fair amount of cracky-sack as well.

And the rest of the tunes fit the doomy mood well, but don’t quite see over the treetops in a giraffe-like fashion. You gotta love the track entitled “’Til death do us apart,” though – not only is there a good solo as I recall but the title, as a result of a slight grammatical problem, takes on a lot of possible meanings. Will the band Death be banging you and your wife in separate rooms? Is this a section of an Italian couple’s wedding vows? “I a-take-a you to be-a my wife…” Who knows?

So my final advice is to pick it up if you’re an old school dooth fan, or a Dutchebag completist. Honor their funeral, goddammit!

6.5 Wolfman’s got NARDS out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 1994
- Label: Century Media
- Website: Asphyx MySpace
- Band
- Heiko Hanke: keyboards
- Ron Van Pol: bass, vocals
- Sander Van Hoof: drums
- Eric Daniels: guitars
- Tonny Brookhuis: lead guitar and intro on last track

- Tracklist
- 01. Prelude Of The Unhonoured Funeral
- 02. Depths Of Eternity
- 03. Emperors Of Salvation
- 04. ‘Til Death Do Us Apart (mamma mia!)
- 05. Initiation Into The Ossuary
- 06. Incarcerated Chimaeras
- 07. Abomination Echoes
- 08. Back Into Eternity
- 09. Valleys In Oblivion
- 10. Thoughts Of An Atheist