YES!
So this is without a doubt one of the five black metal releases that I can point to as my answer to the question regarding what black metal records (modern era only as I refuse to get into the nascent progenitors here) I like most because in my black metal dabbling journey, this is one of the better examples of a flooded and often narrow minded kvlt of individuals who live, breath, and consume all things black metal.
Ash Borer blow the proverbial doors off of a ton of records this year with an absolutely relentless album, and while it may only be three tracks, this self-titled effort is a heavy as all get out (literally, my vinyl copy is 200 gram super heavyweight vinyl) and packs so much piss and vinegar into the three songs that make the record that I am not sure anything else would be necessary, otherwise the relentless nature of the record might completely overwhelm the listener. The strange aspect of this Ash Borer record is that while listening to it, I feel the need to act out my emotional responses (probably not all that different from others but this is a compulsion not a want to reaction); the big drawn out build up in the beginning of "In The Midst Of Life, We Are In Death", my fist pumps to every dramatic drum hit; and during the explosion when the intense and frantic riffing starts, my head involuntarily starts to bob up and down as if in some silent affirmation or agreement with the very music itself. The drums on this album sound huge while establishing the rhythmic base (listen to the way that the tempo changes command the entire arrangement in "Rest, You Are Lightning") that propels the soaring guitar melodies ever onward as the vocals tear through the massive wall of sound; Ash Borer wields a surprising amount power with their compositions and the band's use of dynamics is inspiring, and even though the group often plays at breakneck speed, the songs never feel rushed or overdone.
All genre talk aside, Ash Borer deliver a powerful album that truthfully is just a great record; and anyone looking for a heavy record will want to check this out because it definitely will be worth their time, but be warned because this is an infectious record that might start occupying a great deal of your time as this has happened to me.
