Aeons Of Ashes – The Wasteland Chronicles

As you already know many subgenres in metal are both a blessing and a curse for me. Sometimes it helps to describe the sound of a band that our readers might not be familiar with, and other times it’s just inaccurate and superficial. In this particular case it’s safe to say that we’re dealing with a piece of post modern and melodic death metal. The act we’re talking about is going under the moniker of Aeons Of Ashes and they’re hailing from St. Pölten, Austria.

Many ups and downs so far in the 11-years long career for this still ‘up-and-coming’ band from Austria, but they always remained focused and motivated. That’s what makes a band better and more mature, and it’s exactly what I can hear on their second full-length. Thus, the band recently delivered an extensive and exciting concept album entitled The Wasteland Chronicles. Before this long-awaited sophomore full-length opus, this Austrian sextet (back then a quintet) released a debut full-length Shutdown and several EPs that were released in the following years.

The album contains impressive 21 songs, but unlike majority of concept albums, this one doesn’t presses a few lengthy songs together, but rather split all different yet integral tracks into 21 pieces (incl. short ‘Chapter’ introductions). It means that most of the songs are short, yet again it feels natural and very listenable. The aforementioned chapter introductions (nine in all) serve as interludes, giving a perfect breathing space before the next sonic assault attacks all the senses.

The songs all address different aspects of ‘wasteland’ (the self-created post-apocalyptic fantasy universe ‘wasteland’ created in 2019) and since it’s a concept story it’s best to play the whole album from start to finish in one take. As briefly mentioned above, the conceptual journey began with the release of three EPs, namely; Initiation (2021) and continued with Anticipation (2022) and Determination (2023). These same EPs were enriched with these interludes and short tracks, and then compiled into The Wasteland Chronicles.

As much as I’m sometimes annoyed of talking about genre classification, I’m also annoyed of talking about gender, but I can’t not to tell that vocals duties for Aeons Of Ashes since April 2023 have been taken care of a female vocalist. It’s not a bit story anno 2024, but she’s doing tremendous job, helping the band to develop their sound further. In other words; combining male and female growls and harsh vocals fits just perfectly here. Luckily, it’s not just the vocals that are really impressive on this album, because the mixture of rhythmic passages and stirring melodic riffs is top-notch. From a lyrical perspective, the almost hour of compositions delivers exciting narratives supplemented by a massive sound wall crated by two guitars, bass and drums.

With the inclusion of a new singer and by creating this concept story of ‘wasteland’ the band’s playing style has become more diverse and mature. At least I can say that I am overwhelmed by The Wasteland Chronicles and can only recommend the album to anyone a dark and melodic death metal and esp. fans of internationally renowned bands such as Dark Tranquillity, Paradise Lost, Insomnium, Tristania, A Forest of Stars, Saturnus, Ghost Brigade and Der Weg einer Freiheit.

For further information on this particular full-length visit https://aeonsofashes.bandcamp.com/album/the-wasteland-chronicles