Ashcloud – Kingdom of the Damned

2015, 2016, 2017…It seems Ashcloud intends to release an album every year. The third album is a logical follow-up of its predecessor. The gruesome twosome Gareth Nash and Jonny Pettersson (known for his rotten activities in Wombbath, Gods Forsaken, Skineater and many others) weaves more mid-tempo/atmosphere-esque melodic riffs and leads in their Old School Swedish Death Metal. The core may be built according to the usual Entombed/Dismember blueprint, the guys behind Ashcloud have also listened to albums like Edge of Sanity’s “The Spectral Sorrows” or Gorement’s “My Ending Quest”. All 100% Old School Swedish Death Metal, but both are thinking outside the box-albums comparing with the traditional Old School Swedish Death Metal albums, be it the doomy atmosphere (Gorement) or a certain melodic approach (Edge of Sanity). Although the album isn’t a “your collection isn’t complete without this one!”-album, “Kingdom of the Damned” is an enjoyable listen if you just want a different approach towards the traditional Old School Swedish Death Metal all of a sudden. (Ricardo)