ASPHAGOR – The Aphotic Vortex

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://lnk.to/theaphoticvortex

Spawned in Austria nearly twenty years ago and having undergone quite the interesting musical evolution since then, Asphagor recently unleashed their fifth full-length onslaught via Immortal Frost Productions, and it just so happens that The Aphotic Vortex ticks pretty much all the right black/death metal boxes and delivers plenty of chills and unearthly delights across its eleven tracks.

Musically varied and containing a myriad of textures and layers, The Aphotic Vortex is a vicious and most malign creation that offers up dynamics, surprises, and several unsettling moments that will make the hair on your arms stand up. The riffing is utterly insane and inspired throughout, and the rhythm section is absolutely pulverizing. Ranging from fast to slow and throwing several twists and turns into the mix while also incorporating dark ambient passages in a highly effective and suitable manner, the album feels and sounds like an immersive and evocative tour of the darkest parts of the mind and soul. The diversity of the vocals is a thing to be admired, and in the overall perspective, this album is one of those accomplished affairs that is perfectly disquieting but immensely transfixing.

With the unpredictable, well-produced, and memorable The Aphotic Vortex, Asphagor has truly arrived. Give this remarkable piece of work a serious listen.