When J.R.R. Tolkien began working on The Lord of the Rings in 1937, he could never have imagined that his work would grow into one of the most influential and beloved fantasy stories ever written. What initially started as a sequel to The Hobbit eventually evolved into a mythical epic that would inspire generations of readers, writers, artists, and filmmakers.
In his wildest fantasies, Tolkien probably could not have foreseen that decades later something like Black Metal would emerge, a dark and extreme musical movement drenched in satanic symbolism, anti-religious themes, and cold mysticism, and that these very “devil-worshipping” musicians would turn to his world for inspiration in such great numbers.
Ironically, Tolkien himself was a deeply religious Catholic who likely would have reacted with horror to many of the extremes and controversies associated with parts of the Black Metal scene. Yet that contrast is exactly what makes it so fascinating: an Oxford professor who created a mythological world out of a love for language, history, and folklore unintentionally inspired one of the darkest and most radical musical genres of the modern age.
But enough speculation and history lessons, Asenheim is the real subject here. More specifically, this is the tenth full-length album by the German Black Metal band. Since 2006, the group has also released countless demos, EPs, splits, and other material, building up an impressively extensive discography within the underground scene.
Interestingly, this seems to be the first time the band has so openly drawn inspiration from the work of Tolkien. Their earlier releases contain little to no obvious references to Middle-earth, Tolkien’s mythology, or related themes. While previous albums were mostly rooted in traditional Black Metal subjects such as darkness, melancholy, and occultism, this record deliberately embraces a more epic and fantasy-oriented approach.
Across this album, which clocks in at well over an hour, Tiwaz, also active in Eisenkult, and Valfor, who is likewise involved in Atronos and Eisenkult, attempt to transport the listener into a world inhabited by elves, dwarves, Orcs, and Hobbits. All of this is wrapped in an atmospheric Pagan Black Metal sound that occasionally brings bands like Heimdalls Wacht or Nachfalke to mind.
The music constantly shifts between epic melodies, melancholic passages, and harsher Black Metal eruptions, giving the album a distinctly adventurous atmosphere. In particular, the combination of heroic riffs and sorrowful melodies evokes images of mist-covered mountain paths, ancient ruins, and endless journeys through forgotten kingdoms. With this album, Asenheim manages to create a sound that feels both nostalgic and immersive without completely disappearing into bombast or kitsch.
