Album Review: Ablaze My Sorrow – Among Ashes and Monoliths (Black Lion Records)

Black Lion Records has the honor of presenting Ablaze My Sorrow’s upcoming opus, Among Ashes and Monoliths, their debut with the label. CD, cassette, and digital formats drop on 12th February 2021 with a vinyl release will take place at a later date.

A familiar name in the melodic death metal arena, Ablaze My Sorrow came together in 1993 when Gothenburg’s own brand of death metal had just begun to take shape. Their 2006 split up status finally underwent a change in January 2013 when the awaited reunion happened. Since this rebirth, the quintet released their fourth album, Black, and played a slew of memorable gigs and fests.

After four years of incubation, Ablaze My Sorrow announce their triumphant return with a new album. The fifth full length, entitled Among Ashes and Monoliths, introduce new vocalist Jonas Udd.

As hungry as ever, the years have been kind to Ablaze My Sorrow, and they make their return in album form at a time when melodic death metal is reaching a creative high. More than capable of holding their own with the new school of bands, as well as the legends who are still bringing it. Ablaze My Sorrow offer up a tasty 12-track album that hits all the right notes regarding crunching heaviness and moving melodies.

It’s a darkly layered release. An album that has this bulging vein of maliciousness running through it. Something that is controlled by the guttural vehemence of the vocals. A standout aspect of this record even when we get some surprising clean singing. Such as found on Black Waters and The Cavernous Deep. Those moments just enhance that strong sense of cold gloom while still having a ton of energy, in particular with the rockier latter track.

However, there are also many times where it becomes less about layering and more about just providing listeners with ferocious bangers. The likes of My Sorrow, Grit, Dark Chasms, Nonextence and Frihet Framför Feghet spitting and frothing with wild-eyed fervour.

We might have waited a while for Among Ashes and Monoliths but it has been worth holding out for.

Ablaze My Sorrow – Among Ashes and Monoliths Full Track Listing:

1. My Sorrow
2. Among Ashes and Monoliths
3. Black Waters
4. Grit
5. Her Cold Embrace
6. At the Graves of Giants
7. Dark Chasms
8. The Cavernous Deep
9. Nonextence
10. March of the Eldritch Spawn
11. The Day I Die
12. Frihet Framför Feghet

Links

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