Year: 2026
Label: Schwarzdorn Production

There’s something oddly familiar about this album, I thought on the first listen. But I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was. Going to Metal Archives and checking the members of the German-turned-Norwegian black metal band provided me with an answer. Asaru’s vocalist and primus motor Frank Nordmann aka Akaias used to sing in Agathodaimon.

Now there’s a blast from the past! Agathodaimon’s 1998 debut Blacken The Angel was one of the first black metal CD’s I ever bought, and used to be a solid favourite of mine. I still like it, although it’s been years since I last spun it. I never really considered Nordmann’s/Akaias’ vocals particularly unique or standout – more like perfectly serviceable – but I suppose they were, considering something about them rang familiar almost 30 years later.

Apart from the vocals, Asaru’s music doesn’t remind me much of Agathodaimon. Rather, I am reminded of another German act of the time, Dark Fortress. In a similar fashion, Asaru’s foundation is rather traditional if not even somewhat stereotypical 90’s black metal laced with plenty of melodies. The promo sheet lists acts such as Immortal, Gorgoroth, Dark Funeral and Dissection as references, and whilst V.O.I.D. doesn’t really sound like any of them, it’s obvious these (and other classic acts) are in Asaru’s genes.

This means plenty of sawing guitars and speedy tempos, but melodic in the same, dark sinister sense as Dark Funeral and the rest of the Swedish school. There’s a bit of more traditionally metal riffing here, perhaps not unlike some Immortal. And yes, obviously, plenty of the classic Norwegian sound otherwise too. But also something that makes Asaru markedly German. I can’t put my finger on what it is; Asaru doesn’t sound like Absurd and what have you, but there’s something that betrays their origins (though Nordmann has since located to Norway and has Norwegian bandmates).

The strongest identifying element in Asaru’s sound are Nordmann’s vocals, as already established. His hoarse voice is surprisingly abrasive, and adds a layer or rawness to the music. Otherwise, V.O.I.D. isn’t the most unique album in the world. On the contrary, it’s sound is quite familiar, but doesn’t succumb to the pitfalls of pastiche.

The one thing missing from the album are memorable standout tracks. In fact, the only tracks that stand apart do so negatively: the female vocals on Air – Invisible Infinite Shields and the clean vocals on War – The Divine Beauty Of Blood just don’t mesh with the overall sound. The results stick out like sore thumbs. Other than these, V.O.I.D. consists of solid but somewhat interchangeable songs.

As such, V.O.I.D. doesn’t quite reach its full potential. I like the feel of the music, the sound and nostalgic but not carbon copied traditional 90’s style of Asaru, and Nordmann’s vocals still sound good. But without truly memorable songs, the album falls more into the “nice, but that’s it” category.

Asaru don’t seem to have an online presence