Asguard

Dreamslave
This Dark Reign Recordings

5/10 – Ferris, Cameron, Sloane, Mr. Rooney & Asguard...

16 tracks; 50:34

Who amongst you out there remembers the classic movie ‘Ferris Beullers Day Off’? It is one of my favourites & to this day still holds a special place in my heart (it’s the only movie that I have memorized word for word!) Now, if you are like me, you most certainly remember a cameo by a then unknown Ben Stein (you know, the host & contestant from ‘Win Ben Steins Money?) he with the monotone, droning, sans inflection, voice of Ferris’ homeroom role-calling teacher. You may be asking yourself what on earth does this have to do with Asguard, right? Well, Asguard are the musical equivalent of Ben Stein. I know this is an odd comparison, but it is the first thing that came to mind on initial listen of Dreamslave.

Now, to be fair, Asguard (who hail from the unlikely locale of Belarus) are actually a very talented group of extreme musicians, who are not unlike the symphonic stylings of Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth and Anorexia Nervosa. In fact, the songs crafted on Dreamslave are laden with hooks, grooves & managed to keep me on the edge of my seat. There is enough blackened ferocity on this to appeal to those who might find Dimmu a little to commercial in sound. The riffs on this thing are catchy at times and reminiscent of NWOBHM. Yet, Asguard go beyond being merely another symphonic band - they really do have a sound all their own. Everything is in place for this album to be near perfect, that is, until Ben Stein strolls into the picture and ruins the friggin party! The production value on this album has got to be THE most boooooring I have heard in a long time! Songs that could have been bombastic, epic & grande - are reduced to sterile, monotone and clinical exercises in listening. Here is a good example: Asguard have employed the services of a Symphony Orchestra to perform on some of their songs, but you wouldn’t know it cos of the horrific production and mix. The orchestra comes off sounding like someone tinkling on a Casio keyboard! Asguard could use the production talents of someone like Peter Tatgren to properly showcase their kickass songs!

It is unfortunate, but the stale production of Dreamslave robs the songs of any emotion/heart that truly does exist within the framework of the compositions. This could have been a HUGE album if it weren’t for that elusive Ben Stein – damn him and his money!

Jason Deaville