MALIGNANT ASCETICISM
Ascensum Serpens
(Blood Harvest Records)
10:16min

Perhaps, like me, when you were in grade school, your mom packed little snack-packs into your lunch, or maybe just a little treat / pack of cookies. That’s what all these EPs from Blood Harvest remind me of: small packages that are indeed mouth-watering! This time, the snack is a little different, as MALIGNANT ASCETICISM are a Black Metal band. These Chileans give us two songs for a total running-time of 10+ minutes. While South American in origin, MALIGNANT ASCETICISM have a distinctively Swedish influence. As is perhaps implied by their monicker, the band has that characteristic orthodox sound favored by such acts as (old) OFERMOD, FUNERAL MIST, and Finns BEHEXEN. What MALIGNANT ASCETICISM has in their favor is the slightly non-conformist approach of downtuned guitars. This gives their sound some added balls, rather than the typical high-pitch guitar of your usual orthodox bands. Vocals are Arioch-like – that is, lower-register rasps. Solid stuff… www.bloodharvest.se, www.bloodharvestrecords.bandcamp.com

Dick Osmond

Dick Osmond

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