![News Added May 21, 2016 " If Minnesota was its own country, they could be leading the world right now in exportation of killer music. In just the last few weeks they have struck gold with the new Amiensus single, the latest Oak Pantheon album and now the sophomore album from Ashbringer entitled “Yugen” (Yūgen […]](https://hasitleaked.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Cover-17-320x320.jpg "Ashbringer : Yūgen")
" If Minnesota was its own country, they could be leading the world right now in exportation of killer music. In just the last few weeks they have struck gold with the new Amiensus single, the latest Oak Pantheon album and now the sophomore album from Ashbringer entitled “Yugen” (Yūgen is an Asian word and is said to mean “a profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe and the sad beauty of human suffering”) How appropriate a title for their latest album (as I am assuming this is the Yugen they are speaking of).
Going to back to listen to 2015’s debut “Vacant” was certainly warranted and certainly pleasurable. To put these in the listening queue back to back even doubly so. First off, I remember “Vacant” to be originally a one-person project (Nick Stanger performing and writing everything) and categorically I would say reminded me a lot of Woods Of Desolation or maybe even Panopticon, Gallowbraid or Caladan Brood… desolate, atmospheric, black metal-ish tracks. Now with a complete musician lineup, Ashbringer has taken a huge step forward in overall direction and song cohesiveness, kudos to Nick for committing to making Ashbringer even better than before on the 2nd album. I still believe there in a tangible connection to Nick being solo but also looking forward to where they are headed and the road is wide open.
Opening track “Solace” at almost 11 minutes is certainly the best example of the Ashbringer trajectory, from the keyboard opening to the blast beats to the middle section with guitar harmonies, it still again feels like the first album but a more open ended version with additional layers on what was started on “Vacant”. What is amazing about “Yugen” is you almost forget there are separate tracks as songs flow one into another seamlessly like one long story as opposed to chapters. A majority of the track are in the 5-8 ½ minute category and cram just as much into them as “Solace” does… keys, howls, blast beats, shrieky riffs… with just more urgency to reach finality but with a calm, methodical approach and not amateurish. The one exception is the almost 3 minute “Omen” which is a nice interlude instrumental.
If forced at gunpoint to pick a favorite I would say “Celestial Infancy” with its subliminal heaviness while being overtly heavy at the same time…. a concept that is hard to comprehend but easy to feel…..even with the space voices (you will have to listen to understand this). I think you will each get your own connection(s) here at some point on some track. Production and mix are stellar with guitars having a sharp edge and with a nice clarity overall while a mist shrouded touch is still there.
Overall, don’t look for the folk metal because it isn’t there and who cares, good music is good music and the heavier the better. There are a lot of contradictions on “Yugen”, old/new, one person/5 people, accessible/heavy, but the duality and conflict have been harnessed by Ashbringer. Great album. "
http://www.folk-metal.nl/2016/05/ashbringer-yugen-2016/
