ASIRA – As Ink in Water

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://asira.bandcamp.com/

What we have here is a highly interesting and uniquely crafted release that displays passion and ambition in equal measure. Somewhere between post-black metal, modern progressive rock, and experimental shoegaze lies this epic and emotionally intense opus titled As Ink in Water by the Reading-based outfit intriguingly named Asira.

Sweeping melodies, majestic soundscapes, introspective passages, melancholy riffs, and a subtle dose of defiance characterize this impassioned and powerful-sounding musical document, and the way in which each composition imbues a spirit of yearning is not merely commendable but outright addictive at times. The ambient-inspired textures are full of darkly tender sentiments, the multi-faceted arrangements are clearly one of the group’s main draws, and there is something refreshing about a record that balances aggression and something that can only be described as “sensitive touches” in such a clever, sophisticated, and forward-thinking way. Parts of the LP recall Alcest and Opeth in terms of emotional pull, which means that you can easily get lost in this wonderful stuff for hours on end, and the few instances where Asira do not quite manage to stir the senses in a confident manner and things fall flat are luckily far and few between.

As Ink in Water encapsulates the trials and tribulations of present-day life and is one of the best musical commentaries on the human condition that I have come across these past few months.