Asphyx – Necroceros: Album Review

By Dominic Walsh on 19th January 2021 • ( Leave a comment )

Asphyx return to slay on their tenth album. Wrap up and get lost in the blizzard of destruction on Necroceros.

Released: 22nd January 2021

Format: CD / CD+DVD Mediabook / Download / Vinyl (Various variants)

Asphyx released Incoming Death five years ago. A title that almost sounds like a prophecy in 2021. The Dutch masters of death/doom go for the jugular in an instant on Necroceros; their tenth long player.

The Sole Cure Is Death blasts out of the traps with a flurry of brutal riffs and drums. The vocals slay as well. If you need the 2020 cobwebs blowing away; just let this opener do the trick! For the next fifty minutes or so, things do not relent.

Molten Black Earth’s doomy introduction is punctuated with a pace which erupt like flames of fury throughout. Mount Skull follows the same formula with spectacular drumming obliterating the aural senses.

Death/doom metal drumming in a band is always mighty impressive. The tempos and precision that the sticksmiths bring to bands are the driving forces. Stefan “Husky” Hüskens is in rich form on Necroceros. Botox Implosion has a drummed introduction preceding grinding riffs and lyrics, reminiscent of Carcass at their most putrid.

Asphyx tell stories throughout Necroceros. Three Years Of Famine, Knights Templar Stand and In Blazing Oceans all create themes in their titles. Knights Templar Stand stands out with wonderfully hypnotic riffs from Paul Baayens and Three Years Of Famine brings the misery with slow churning guitars. It’s one of the doomiest sounding tracks on the album along with The Nameless Elite.

In all the tracks on Necroceros the vocals have a unique anguish to them. Emotion pours out of every growl, line and scream from Martin van Drunen. It’s vicious and unabating. Yield Or Die is the call as the album reaches its final stages; an apt calling card for these Dutch masters of brutality.

Necroceros serves as crucial catharsis as we enter a new year after one of the worst in history. Don’t sleep on this one.

Watch the official video for Botox Implosion from Asphyx, below.