Eternal Helcaraxe - Drown in Ash (2022)

With the amount of promos we get, sometimes we miss some truly unique gems like “Drown in Ash” by Eternal Helcaraxe. Luckily, we have a system to check out nearly every single album we receive and review some of the most impressive ones. Hailing from Ireland, this outfit delivers a highly melancholic and melodic blend of Atmospheric elements and fierce Black Metal. From start to finish this release will keep you to the edge of your seat and will leave you wanting more.

The onslaught begins with the somber “Withered Strands Of Existence” and its lush dreamy opening that suddenly turns hectic with waves of crafty guitars, pummeling drums and harsh vocals. There is a certain melancholic magic on the clean vocal arrangements that flank the intensity of the music, making the song quite effectives. With an Austere meets Saor vibe, tracks like the album title song, “Where Dead Things Roam Free” and “None Of It Mattered” fiercely explore the bands multiple facets from relentless aggression to minimalistic acoustic interludes.

The release by no means is ‘too fluffy’ as some might say, the band has a powerful Black Metal foundation that shines on songs like “Case” and the closer “In Darkwoods and Dreams”. Particularly this last song has some awesome melodic headbanging sections and a hefty dose of blistering guitar riffs. It is truly an art balancing melody, atmosphere, and aggression and the songs in this release showcase the band’s undeniable talents.

Overall, “Drown in Ash” is one very engaging and dynamic release. Filled with both melancholy and harshness, this Irish outfit does not compromise on either side of their aural spectrum and create very engaging and high-quality songs. Never getting dull or repetitive, the nearly 47 minutes of music will keep any fan of the genre entertained, and going back to explore the band’s earlier releases.

Label: Naturmacht Productions

Release: September 30th, 2022

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal

Country: Ireland