BY STEVE THIRIOT
With a decade of experience up their sleeve, Las Vegas-based Deathcore band Asylum of Ashes, has unleashed their newest offering "Bridge to Hell" upon the Metal Community. Dropped on June 23, 2023, and Mixed and mastered by the capable hands of Ari Mihalopoulos (Former member of Otep), this album proves to be a torrential downpour of frenzied instrumentals and gut-wrenching vocal performances.
Band Members Willy Anderson on vocals, Brian Anderson on drums, Marcus Baker and Marc Mireles on guitars, and Tyler Sanderson on bass, all bring their unique skills and intensities to the table, culminating in a devastating sonic display.
The album opens up with "Ashes To Ashes," an eerily slow intro assaulting your conscience, making you question your nature of reality.
"A Violent Utopia" properly opens up the album and sets a dark yet intense tone for what's to follow. Willy Anderson's guttural vocals are complemented beautifully by the heavy guitar riffs of Baker and Mireles, and the rhythm section, comprised of Brian Anderson and Tyler Sanderson, provides a stable, yet complex backbone.
"Porcelain Hearts And Plagued Minds" up’s the ante with their relentless drumming and unyielding basslines. The fusion of brutal lyrics with intricate instrumentals does well to encapsulate the essence of the band's unique sound.
"Walls That Whisper (Grotesque Suicide)" shows a more nuanced side of the band, blending heavy instrumentals with evocative lyrical storytelling. The skillful mix and mastering of Mihalopoulos shine through here, with each element distinctly heard and yet perfectly fused with the others.
"Madness For Two" and "Never Ending Terror" are perhaps the album's heaviest tracks, packed with relentless rhythms, bone-crushing breakdowns, and furious vocal deliveries. The gut-wrenching "Buried In Maggots" and the visceral "Canvas For The Vile" further plunge the listener into the grim and haunting death metal soundscape that Asylum of Ashes excels in creating.
"Doctor's Orders" is a noteworthy track, subtly shifting the album's dynamics with a more rhythm-focused approach, while "Maladaptive Dreaming" wraps up the album, leaving the listener with a haunting aftertaste that lingers long after the last chord is played.
"Bridge to Hell '' is an ambitious project that displays the growth and evolution of Asylum of Ashes over their ten years as a band. It demonstrates their ability to harness chaos and mold it into a complex, layered, and captivating deathcore masterpiece.
The band's seasoned experience, coupled with Mihalopoulos's mixing and mastering, allows every note, beat, and lyric to contribute to the album's looming, foreboding atmosphere.
Having had the privilege to record and mix one of the band's early demos nearly 10 years ago, It is awesome to witness the growth and maturity in their songwriting; While their musicianship has increased light years from where they started.
Bridge To Hell is a heavy, intense, and exhilarating journey from start to finish, reinforcing Asylum of Ashes position as a force to be reckoned with in the world of deathcore. A must-listen for any fan of the genre.
Listen to the album on SPOTIFY