Ashenspire - Hostile Architecture (2022). UK. Progressive/Black/Avant-garde Metal.

1. The Law of Asbestos (8:31) 2. Béton Brut (5:18) 3. Plattenbau Persephone Praxis (6:45) 4. How the Mighty Have Vision (2:40) 5. Tragic Heroin (3:15) 6. Apathy as Arsenic Lethargy as Lead (4:53) 7. Palimpsest (3:05) 8. Cable Street Again (9:31) Total Time 43:58 Alasdair Dunn/voice, drums Fraser Gordon/guitars, voice James Johnson/violin, voice Matthew Johnson/saxophone, voice Ben Brown/bass Scott McLean/Rhodes, prepared piano Rylan Gleave/tenor & bass voices Amaya López-Carromero/soprano & alto voices Otrebor/hammered dulcimer 2023 Code666 Clear Black and Grey splatter pressing, limited to 100 copies The second full-length album from Scotland&Ashenspire is one of those albums that really grew. On the first listen, I liked it. It&an incredibly dense record, so I knew I was going to need to revisit it. By the third time I made my way through this opus, it had become a serious contender for my album of the year. The blend of black metal and avant-garde influences is incredible, and the raw anger of this record truly shines through. "The Law of Asbestos" opens on slightly-askew jazzy guitar and saxophone before delving into a bruising wall of distortion. The saxophone remains clear above this aggressive backdrop, and violin comes in alongside it. This melodic element is tossed aside as the first verse bursts forth in a furious, surging ball of chaos. The hoarse vocals, unnatural rhythm, and dense soundscape combine to create a desperate, oppressive atmosphere. The...