Review: Afsky – Om Hundrede år
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Review by K
Afsky – Om Hundrede år
Record Label: Vendetta Records
Year: 2023
Rating: 8.5/10
Early declaration – the boss at TIBM seems insistent on giving me albums to review that consist of impossible to spell/ say/ type titles. And so may I declare that any spelling mistakes and/or incorrect translations from the following review are my own. As an Englishman I am among the 99.9% who can barely utter any foreign words, rather shameful when compared to our European brethren.
Of course I could use Google translate but I really can’t be bothered…. Apologies in advance.
That done, welcome then to the new offering from Afsky, a Danish one man project that has three solid albums behind him and almost no further information, save that his name is Ole. Om Hundrede år ( er, a hundred years?) kicks off with the slow melodic acoustic atmosphere of Stormfulde Hav ( Stormy something?) which in turn gives way to a slow melancholic wall of rhythm guitars. This in turn alternates between mid paced brutality with an air of grace and acoustic precision. Immediately it’s clear that this is music for gazing out of the window on stormy nights. A nice, if unspectacular opener.
“Frosne Vind” ( Frozen wind?) begins to cement the theme of the album. It’s not going to be breakneck or indeed groundbreaking. But there is certainly going to be a lot of quality. The track builds slowly in volume and speed to a crescendo of quite lovely harmonics. The layered guitars complement each other through the chords in a very satisfying way. All chord resolutions are present and correct and the drumming, if not jaw-dropping, is certainly competently handled. The vocals could sit comfortably in most Scandinavian BM releases of this nature, mid to high-pitched, pained and strained. Of course, the pervasive atmosphere of sadness is there, as expected which only grows as the album progresses.
“Tak for Alt” ( Thanks for everything?) has the ubiquitous slow electro-acoustic intro and soon melts into a heart-wrenching theme of despairing guitars and saddened vocals. This one is straight from the DSBM rule book, downcast and downtrodden melodies that soar wonderfully then break down in tears. A central instrumental break segues into some further very beautiful measured darkness that picks itself back up from the floor and gathered pace and momentum through its 7ish minutes. Track of the album so far, a real masterpiece in the art of making music that feeds the soul. This track will have you standing, knuckles on hips, gazing out over the grey season a Sunday morning, nodding knowingly with the wind whipping in your face. Thanks for the alt indeed….
Afsky
“Det der Var” (That there vase?) begins in the same fashion as its predecessor, but somehow the magic feels slightly lessened. Has the album peaked? Read on for further clues..Basically, this is another lovely track, just not as lovely as the one before it. There are echoes of October Tide ringing all through this release and this track is the most obvious example. Alternating fast and slow perfectly arranged rhythm guitars keep the smile on your face and the fire alight in the heart. This kind of music can occasionally stall and become a bit stale, a little set in its ways. However, Afsky seems to have a knack for keeping the interest going up until the end of each track. Another fine song.
Following “That there vase” is the faintly surprising harpsichord opening of “Tid” (Time, think I know this one) which sadly doesn’t last longer but is followed by yet another lovingly crafted frozen anthem of desolate sadness, roaring seas and howling winds. Afsky seems to have this “atmosphere” lark well and truly sorted. The obligatory centered mid-song break is left behind by a blistering second half of mournful Melodic pure Black Metal that ranks as the fastest section of the album. There no solos to be had, happily, and one can easily stride all day through the hills with this track on repeat and not become bored. Another master stroke.
A single twang announces the beginning of the end, the final track. “Fred Være Med Støvet” (Fred’s very meth stove – fuck it) encapsulates and brings together Om Hundrede år into precisely what it is. A carefully thought out, wonderfully realised collection of melancholic songs that will have you wondering why you haven’t listened to this guy before. And if you haven’t, then the question must be why not? This album is 43 mins of just great Metal. Some of it, if not most of it has been done before, and it must be said that the album isn’t a massive departure from his previous releases. But it has certainly been worth the wait. Afsky has a way of taking sad music and making it their (his) own and a separate entity from everyone else doing something similar.
And for that, he should have our thanks and praise.
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