Look at that art! Doesn’t it look desolate? Doesn’t it make you feel like Phrenelith is going to obliterate your ears so badly that you’ll actually start wearing earplugs at concerts (as a hearing expert, I highly recommend you do it anyway)? Ashen Womb promises what any Danish death metal album would: unfathomable agony and horror. But can it really stand out from the crowd? Let’s find out!
Ashen Womb hits you like a wall of industrial sound—not in the Industrial Metal sense, but in the sense of how godless and uncompromising the attack is. It has a touch of old-school Death Metal, Doom, and even some atmospheric and melodic elements. The band takes familiar, even overexposed ideas, but manages to add its own twist. This results in tracks that, despite not being very long, feel as if they are due to the barrage of ideas packed into them. I can’t avoid comparing Phrenelith with Hyperdontia, but it’s not that simple.
Phrenelith slows down considerably compared to that other Danish classic, trading aggression for more depravity. Ashen Womb sounds more sinister and spacious than straightforwardly aggressive. But don’t worry—it still retains that gross crunch we love in the underground. The vocals sound as if they’re coming from a black hole, the blastbeats are inescapable, and the guitars rain down chaos while also delivering sensitive melodies. And the bass? Yes, it’s there. Relax, pesky bass players!
However, I do have some constructive criticism. I get the slight impression that the band is playing it safe, sticking to Death Metal because it’s where they feel confident. But as many of the intros and outros suggest, Phrenelith has the potential to do more. The band could afford to get experimental, and it’s okay to step outside the established boundaries. Not everything has to be like throwing gasoline into a chimney (and please, don’t try this at home). I wouldn’t be surprised if their future holds crazier and more adventurous projects, but we’ll have to wait and see.
That said, Ashen Womb is a solid and respectable piece of horrifying battery that every Death or even Doom Metal fan could enjoy. As long, as you enjoy brutal but consistent speed. I hate to admit it, but the Danes are getting better at extreme Metal lately. Maybe they’ll finally join the Nordic cartel with honor, instead of tagging along like your weird cousin. So, let’s all enjoy this sunless vortex together.
Listen to it here!
Label: Dark Descent Records/ Me Saco un Ojo
Release date: February 7, 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/phrenelith
Country: Denmark
Score: an obscure 3.5/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 