Ashen Horde's latest album, The Harvest, marks a significant shift in the band's sound and identity. The album showcases a diverse range of musical influences, blending black and death metal with progressive, melodic, and thrash elements. This evolution is particularly evident in the vocal style, with the introduction of clean vocals by Karl Chamberlain, replacing Stevie Boiser's harsher delivery. The album's musical complexity and thematic exploration of endings and new beginnings have sparked mixed reactions among listeners.
One of the most notable changes on The Harvest is the shift in vocal style. Chamberlain's clean vocals add a melodic touch to the band's sound, drawing comparisons to bands like Trivium and Killswitch Engage. This change is not limited to vocals; the album's instrumentation has also diversified, incorporating elements of progressive, melodic, and thrash metal. The guitar work, in particular, showcases a distinct Voivoid-ian essence, with classic Piggy-inspired riffing.
Despite the band's attempt to maintain their core identity, The Harvest feels like a work in progress. The album's diverse musical elements sometimes struggle to gel into a unified whole, with the vocal style being a notable concern. While Chamberlain's performance is potent, the even split between harsh and clean vocals creates a sense of dissonance, particularly in tracks like 'Autumnal'.
However, The Harvest is not without its strengths. The album's exploration of new musical territories and themes of endings and new beginnings offer a fresh perspective for the band. The addition of drummer Robin Stone and bassist Igor Panasewicz further enhances the album's overall sound, providing a solid foundation for the band's evolving style.
In conclusion, The Harvest is a bold and ambitious album that showcases Ashen Horde's willingness to experiment and push their musical boundaries. While it may not be a perfect album, it is a testament to the band's creativity and their ability to evolve while staying true to their roots. As the band continues to explore new frontiers, fans can look forward to hearing more of their innovative and thought-provoking music.
