Asag - Asag (2007)

   Asag's debut album was basically the remastered version of their demo with an extra song. But even by knowing this, it's more like a compilation EP with songs that have been written and recorded in various times.
   That's the thing that makes the debut interesting, as it shows the development of the band's music from a raw, strongly traditional Norwegian black metal influenced form, through a few experimental songs to the forming of the band's own style. It might have been a journey that took a couple of years. As the album goes on, the songs getting better step by step both by sound and composition. Less unified than what should be expected from a debuting black metal band, but therefore a more diverse and exciting record than usual. Starting from the traditional, strongly atmospheric path the band involved both raw black metal elements and catchier themes. By the sound the band also focused more on enjoyability, than on misty atmospheric sizzling. In total "Asag" ends up in a pretty aggressive tone, that's more common to encounter in Mediterranean regions, where generic black metal audiences not necessarily would look for the representatives of the genre. For black metal fans it's definitely a rare and exciting (dark) gem.