ASH INHERITANCE - DEVASTATED BY FIRE
ROCK IT UP RECORDS
Metal To Infinity
Ash
Inheritance is a German Thrash Metal band containing four guys totally hooked on
the almighty forces of 80s Metal music! It was in the early months of 2004 one
and another began to take form – Marco Mora (guitar / vocals) decided to left
the band he played in those days… this guy just wanted to set up his own
formation. He succeeded completely – he found the right musicians to raise
some hell by playing old school Metal… as soon as the line-up was complete,
hell broke loose! Looking for a bandname, first they took Goblins Blade but as
we all know – this is a song from almighty Bay Area Thrash Metal act Heathen
so… finally, Ash Inheritance became the real name of the band.
“Age
Of Chaos” was the band’s first output – a 4 track demo EP it was, some
research on AI’s background history told me it was good enough to go on and
see what the future would bring. Two years later, they walked on straight to the
recording studios for the works on a first full-length album. It took a while
but they made it, via Rock It Up Records we at Metal To Infinity webzine,
received the album entitled “Devastated By Fire” to review – I’ve never
heard of the band before so this is the ultimate chance to find out what these
guys have to offer.
For
some people, it doesn’t matter how the outside of the entire packaging looks
like – besides the music audible on the CD itself, to me it’s also a very
good point the way the cover art, look / information of the entire booklet,
inlay, lay-out is worked out. In the case of Ash Inheritance, I really have no
reason to complain. Everything seems very well done here so let’s go on with
the real deal – what about the music?
Well,
the band plays Thrash Metal so called 80s inspired. Great rhythms what leads to
fine song structures mostly, a Bay Area Thrash Metal feel is tangible / audible
for sure. The vocals can’t keep on my attention completely – these aren’t
that strong enough to blow me away either. At one side, I like my Metal (doesn’t
matter if it’s Thrash / Heavy or whatever other style of Metal music) mostly
with a singer that uses pretty clean / high pitched vocal lines. Vocals
delivered in some kinda brutal / rough way are fine to me but with Ash
Inheritance, the lack of ‘a final touch’ hits me in the face. On ‘Whistle
In The Dark’ for example – in the first part of the song, you’ll a hear
neutral / clean singing part and allows me to say that this choice wasn’t
quite right. Advise to the band: Please try to ignore to using normal ways of
singing. By the way, I’d like to recommend this song to Metallica fanatics in
times of “…And Justice For All” – akin to the sound of ‘One’ from
these legendary Speed Metal masters – Ash Inheritance offers the goods!
As
already said before, the guitar / drum rhythms are good – old school styled
with high speed velocities… I'm in! Listen closely to the guitar solo’s I'm
fairly satisfied. Some of the songs have decent, nearly brilliant axe grinding
on board – unfortunately some appear with a few failures audible. But that are
nothing more than details guys, the main point is that you can’t let yourself
completely go while thrashing out your place. The production is really good –
I had a wonderful ‘headbanging’ time during songs like: ‘Devastating Fire’,
‘Malicious Seed’, ‘Enflamed In Anger’, ‘Mortar Flesh Picasso’. I
don’t know if you ever heard of a Swedish band named Mezzrow and their
fantastic album entitled “Then Came The Killing”… according to myself, Ash
Inheritance does remind me more than once on this band. Refresh your Classic
Thrash Metal memory and I'm sure you’ve heard all about this Swedish tharshers.
Final
conclusion: I'm moderately satisfied with Ash Inheritance’s debut album
“Devastated By Fire”. Maybe not a smack in the face but with some more
practising, they will grab on my full attention in the near future. For fans of
Mezzrow, old Metallica, American based Hellhound (for some of the guitar rhythms),
Defiance (Void Terra Firma), Tankard. Check
them out at: http://www.myspace.com/ashinheritance
My Points: 80 / 100 (Review by Stefan)