Album Review: Ainsoph - "Ω - V" 10 (Post Black)

Ainsoph
Ω – V
Post Black/Post Punk
The Netherlands
February 2nd, 2020
Wolves Of Hades
10/10

Somewhere between Idle Hands and Julie Christmas is Ainsoph, an incredible new Dutch band that brings together a series of influences from black metal to post punk and every post metal ideal between the two. It’s all tied together with a distant yet clear kind of mixing that both allows for multiple styles to shine and still sound like one cohesive crushing unit. At the forefront of this is are feminine vocals that sound like someone who isn’t even there anymore, a ghost… “She is the void” to quote the second track “Malkuth”. This is one of those albums that is so in it’s own element that it’s more metal adjacent as it allows outside influences to strongly dictate the direction of the sound. Something I’m always happy to hear.

While the vocalist is at the forefront with her incredible voice and lyrics, the strength of this album relies on the spacing of the music to allow for the guitar and bass to unfold and entwine in chilling ways. The whole thing gives me goosebumps. Every track feels like a proper story being told, some may have resolution and others are entirely tragic. You know that feeling when you’re drunk late at night when everyones fallen asleep and you’re outside having a smoke, listening to music that really connects with you, making you unable to move, not wanting to ever leave that moment of emotion and the memory attached to it? This album does that to me completely sober.

It’s outright emotionally stirring and sonically absorbing. It’s a patient listen that rewards hitting that repeat button. You’ll wistfully faze out for moments at a time until a certain lyric pounds your heart and brings your mind back to the amazing experience at hand.

The black metal elements are very much post black metal with clean-tone tremolo picking but they are by no means boring. The audio engineering on this record is genius tier and makes what could be boring moments something consistently special. The guitars take on quite a few approaches with big energy melodies too. It’s so fluid how every track goes together, hell, you could play this album in reverse track order and get an equally profound record. I can not find a fault. I just can’t. What would I possibly criticise here? Sure the drumming isn’t anything fantastical but they played their necessary role as was needed. The worst thing I could possibly say about any of this album is that some parts of it are simply appropriate.

Ainsoph: Bandcamp / Facebook / Instagram

The album art by K.v.H of The Throat, says it all really, this is a complete album. I’m so glad I didn’t miss this and that I receive promos from furthest parts of the world from myself here in Australia. I’m glad I could be involved this experience.

Ω – V releases Feb 2nd and I can wholeheartedly vouch for this one, especially if you’re still sad about Battle Of Mice disbanding over a decade ago like I am. Here is the preorder link for the vinyl via Wolves Of Hades. Digitally you can get it via Bandcamp.

“I am the human vacuum”, brilliant.

10/10