“The fact that the project has already borne fruit in just four years is a very positive sign.”
Spaniards Aschen have just released their debut album The Never Ending Search through Italian label WormHoleDeath. Consisting of Mikel Telletxea (Guitars, Vocals, Programming) and Atauzz (Bass), Aschen play black metal the Swedish style. Like what happens with pretty much every black metal band, Aschen focuses their lyrical energy on philosophical matters, be it in English or in their mother tongue Basque. The band has been around since 2022 and it’s good to see theory put to practice so soon.
Opener “Sasi Santuaren Amiltzea” starts off quite well, its main feature being a steady, solid rhythm with that unmistakable northern black metal pace, one that reminisces of Khold or even Shining, which is a favorable sign of things to come. Or is it? While the bass volume in the early seconds of the song shows strength and amplitude, at the first change of tempo we realize that it is way too loud, way too prominent, to the point of smothering the sound of the guitar throughout the whole record. While it’s a great opening tune, unfortunately the bad mixing of the bass becomes one of the trademarks of the album.
The fact that the band lacks a drummer (and we all know how frustrating it is to find one) hurts as well, as the programming of the rhythmic section is too simple and unremarkable to be honest, which is something that an experienced drummer within the genre would certainly fix on top of adding that crispy, organic sound. Take for instance “From the Depths of Decay”, the album’s second track. The drum programming is “OK”, but that doesn’t cut it in such a competitive and oversaturated ecosystem as is the metal one in 2026. It’s easy to experience an array of emotions with this track, which triggers empathy and even alterity if you’re not into black metal, but what’s undeniable is the great promise that the band holds if only it can find an experienced drummer.
There’s more than meets the eye though. While this debut starts off with the right foot firmly planted in the Norwegian – Swedish border, it ends with the left one unexpectedly and unlikely planted thousands of kilometers down south in Greece, as “The Last Glow” shows. The calm riff that precedes the stirringly fast prelude ruled by a totalitarian double-bass, and that gives way to trademark blastbeats heard in such bands as mighty Nightfall and Rotting Christ of old, with its characteristic grandiose, epic feeling all around, makes this song the finest moment of the record by far. The mastering was left to Toni Lindgren of Fascination Street fame, hence it’s easy to understand why it sounds perfect overall. This also shows the band’s compromise and desire to grow, which is obviously good.
The fact that the Aschen tree bore good fruit in just four years is a very good sign. Yes, there is still much work to be done to try and swim with larger fish in wider waters, but everything that The Never Ending Search shows is strength and focus. Let’s see what these lads can do with a real drummer and better mixing.
