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News : Claret Ash debut album details, artwork, first track released

By on June 7, 2015

It’s not too often that we hear something out of Canberra that really catches our ear these days, but Claret Ash did just that with their 2013 EP Ground Dweller. The production left something to be desired, but it was some seriously promising progressive black metal.

On July 8th, they release their debut full length The Cleansing, and below is the first new track from it. The press release sums it up pretty well; it’s more riff-focused, more intense, and rather than the more spacious vibe of lengthy atmospheric black metal tracks, it instead has that eerie blackened death vibe that Dark Fortress do so well.

“The Cleansing evolves from the more atmospheric sound of the previous album, and focuses on bringing to life the violence and intensity of change, of the shifting seasons, and of the turmoil of human emotion. This is reflected in the aggressive musicianship that showcases faster, more extreme drumming, a more brutal, dissonant guitar sound and a truly haunting and unique vocal range. While still citing black/extreme metal acts such as Wolves in the Throne Room, Ulver and Enslaved as major influences, for this album CLARET ASH have incorporated more blackened-death elements, reminiscent of late Behemoth, Dark Fortress, and The Great Old Ones.”

Below is the track listing and the stunning artwork created by Stigma Art, who is also handling the art for the upcoming The Faceless album.

1. Tides of Darkness
2. Effigy of Insolence
3. Desolation of a Pierced Soul
4. The Sombre Fields
5. As These Flowers Wither… Now I Must Decay
6. The Cleansing
7. Life Transcended
Part 1. Rise
Part 2. Drained
Part 3. Death
8. Deciduous, Change of Skin
9. The Wolves Have Fed Tonight

Pre-orders are now available through Bandcamp due for release on July 8th. And you can hear some of the new material live at the following shows;

10th July @ Melbourne (TBC)
11th July @ Bendigo Hotel, Melbourne w/ Earth, Adamus Exul, Feralian, Wood of Suicides, Subterranean Drilling Machine
18th July @ Transit Bar, Canberra w/ Rise of Avernus, Futility, And Then Silence
14th August @ The Basement, Canberra w/ Sorathian Dawn, Atra Vetosus, Legion of the Horn, Avascular Necrosis
15th August @ Newcastle (TBC)
21st August @ Launcestion (TBC)
22nd August @ Hobart (TBC)
29th August @ Bald Faced Stag, Sydney w/ Belligerent Intent, Cruciform, Sorathian Dawn, Daemon Foetal Harvest, Viscera

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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.