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Album Reviews : Black Asylum – Anthem Of Order

By on October 13, 2009

blackasylum_anthemoforderWhilst I really enjoyed Black Asylum’s debut album ‘Truths Of The Blood‘ I did find it a bit hit or miss at times and I got the impression that in their exuberance they tried too hard to incorporate a multitude of ideas. Their new release ‘Anthem Of Order‘ rectifies this and sounds like a totally reinvigorated and focused band.

At six tracks and just over twenty four minutes there is little time wasted in piling on the aggression through each of the songs, typified by opener ‘Smoke And Mirrors‘, whether that is lurching irresistibly forward at rabid speed or settling into a driving groove. What I hear is a band that has found their identity, are playing to their strengths and, most importantly, are comfortable just being themselves.

The rhythm section of bassist Peter Langford and drummer Danny Hewling, whose rapid footwork is quite impressive, really drive every song and provide the foundation on which all else is built. Daniel Ford and Travis Klerc provide some really powerful guitar riffs and tasteful melodies while vocalist Troy Harris is the same lovable vocal maniac he has always been.

There is something ironic about a song called ‘Subtlety‘ when not only the song itself, but the whole CD, is the complete antithesis of that concept and I think that is why I enjoyed it so much. Put in the simplest of terms, ‘Anthem Of Order‘ is an exhilarating ass kicking that seems like it would go over brilliantly in the live environment.

Black Asylum have certainly outdone themselves this time and I hope they can keep the music at this high level of intensity on any future releases, if so they are onto something special indeed. In the interim go and see them when they play around the country in the coming weeks and pick up a copy of ‘Anthem Of Order‘ once it is available via the good people at Riot! as it is a great effort. 8/10

Artist: Black Asylum
Album: Anthem Of Order
Year: 2009
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label: Riot! Entertainment
Origin: Australia
www.black-asylum.com

Track Listing:
1. Smoke And Mirrors
2. 25 To Life
3. Face The Silence
4. The Last Day
5. Subtlety
6. Black As The Crow

Review by Peter Schulz

Whilst I really enjoyed Black Asylum’s debut album “Truths Of The Blood” I did find it a bit hit or miss at times and I got the impression that in their exuberance they tried too hard to incorporate a multitude of ideas. Their new release “Anthem Of Order” rectifies this and sounds like a totally reinvigorated and focused band.

At six tracks and just over twenty four minutes there is little time wasted in piling on the aggression through each of the songs, typified by opener “Smoke And Mirrors”, whether that is lurching irresistibly forward at rabid speed or settling into a driving groove. What I hear is a band that has found their identity, are playing to their strengths and, most importantly, are comfortable just being themselves.

The rhythm section of bassist Peter Langford  and drummer Danny Hewling, whose rapid footwork is quite impressive, really drive every song and provide the foundation on which all else is built. Daniel Ford and Travis Klerc provide some really powerful guitar riffs and tasteful melodies while vocalist Troy Harris is the same lovable vocal maniac he has always been.

There is something ironic about a song called “Subtlety” when not only the song itself, but the whole CD, is the complete antithesis of that concept and I think that is why I enjoyed it so much. Put in the simplest of terms, “Anthem of Order” is an exhilarating ass kicking that seems like it would go over brilliantly in the live environment.

Black Asylum have certainly outdone themselves this time and  I hope they can keep the music at this high level of intensity on any future releases, if so they are onto something special indeed. In the interim go and see them when they play around the country in the coming weeks and pick up a copy of “Anthem of Order” once it is available via the good people at Riot! as it is a great effort.

8/10

Artist: Black Asylum

Album: Anthem Of Order

Year: 2009

Genre: Metal

Label: Riot!

Origin: Australia

www.black-asylum.com

Track Listing:

  1. Smoke And Mirrors
  2. 25 To Life
  3. Face The Silence
  4. The Last Day
  5. Subtlety
  6. Black As The Crow

About

Mitch Booth is the owner, designer and grand overlord of Metal Obsession. In the few seconds of spare time he has outside of this site, he also hosts a metal radio show over on PBS 106.7fm in Melbourne (Australia) and organises shows under the name Untitled Touring. You should follow him on Twitter.