ninehertz

Azell are a duo – a fact that seems incredible once you hear the depth and heft within – from Kentucky; Astralis their second album a year after their debut. It is cosmic doom set along a concept of a pulp fiction novel, each song equating to a chapter.

Their ‘space sludge’ tag makes sense quickly, as the first track hits you. There are death metal audio aesthetics within, making for a punishing listen, but the cosmic eeriness that supplements the sound creates something a little excitingly unusual. The vocals are fierce – making me recall Mantar at their darkest. It’s equally psychotic and psychedelic.

I can’t get enough of the vocals, they could carry any song to a point of interest regardless of the quality behind them – not just angry but a lifeforce of malcontent. Thankfully Azell bring much more through their sludgey rhythms, incredible for two people to create.

At its best this album razes the ground before it, completely destructive, primarily sludge, part death, even edging on industrial on a couple of occasions. It recalls a band lost to time somewhat – Finland’s Morbid Evils, who were absolutely venomous with their sludge.

There are a couple of gripes – it’s too long by a few songs – a shorter story would have trimmed some of the repetition that generates some fatigue, and the same guitar effect tone that runs pretty much throughout starts to feel samey before the eleven songs are up. But these are minor, and the resounding sentiments are fond, Astralis a success with its thick tarred sludge.