Nothing to Nowhere is the debut EP from new Seek and Strike Records signee’s AASAR. Hailing from the cold mountains of Italy, the four-piece absolutely show they mean business by delivering a relentlessly dark journey of noise, with an underlying hypnotic melody that keeps you hooked from start to finish. While lyrically the record is strongly influenced by themes of Norse and Egyptian mythology, with a concept exploring the spiritual journey of a man headed towards damnation.
AASAR set the tone for their record with the post-apocalyptic Terminator–esque brooding sci-fi opening of ‘Rise of the Dark Ether’, which builds the tension before dropping into an explosion of technical riffing and thunderous drumming on ‘From Nothing to Nowhere’. There is the clear inspiration of a Meshuggah style in the music, with an emotionally powerful vocal delivery combining to channel pure ferocity, before the song melts into a melodic dreamlike finale.
‘Fall Into Oblivion (Remix)’ begins with blast beats and blackened riffing which is dramatic and chaotic from the off, while an opening lead hook draws you in the desolation of ‘Wasteland’, with the strong vocals once again proving powerfully dominant. ‘Court of the Unknown’ is slower in parts but equally as heavy as everything that’s come before, while the EP rounds off with ‘Defy Necrosis’, and a tempestuous cacophony of swirling blackened noise, interjected with some fine guitar leads.
At this fledgling stage in their career it’s fair to say that AASAR are somewhat of an enigmatic mystery. But I feel that with a debut this strong, it won’t be long before they’re talked about as one of the new extreme Metal bands to keep a strong eye on … and I for one am definitely intrigued for what comes next.
Buy the EP here:
8 / 10
ABSTRAKT_SOUL_