Asrai - Pearls In Dirt
Season Of Mist

file under Gothic metal

Vera: The Rotterdam based formation Asrai captures a very special place between all the other Dutch gothic bands. Their roots lie in the new wave and punk scene of the eighties – they do exist since 1988 – and these influences are still present on their third album. ‘Pearls In Dirt’ will hit the shops on November, 12th and includes ten new compositions with lots of mutual variegation. Asrai has not only an excellent singer (Margriet), but her twin sister Karin plays drums and with Manon (keyboards, violin) the band has three women in their ranks.

Every song has its own specific charms. ‘Delilah’s Lie’ is very dark and leans on low-tuned, punching guitars and vocals of Margriet, often singing in lower ranges too. ‘Your Hands Go Cold’ has the nearest approach to usual gothic rock, due to its dramatic tinge. Every song has firm guitars, but orchestration is put more in the front during the ballad-like ‘Stay With Me’. Surprising inciting is ‘Go’, a party song that will do it well in a live situation. Same goes for the wild ‘Awaken’ in which the punk roots of the band rule. But there are moments of melancholy and desire as well. Like in the sensitive ‘Something I Said’ where spatial guitar sounds gave me goose-bumps. The single ‘Sour Ground’ will be released on the fifth of November and has a true eighties new wave sound (U2) by guitars and keyboards, an atmosphere that reigns all album long. Another highlight is the lingering ‘Chain Me’ with a distorted spoken fragment (male). Here melancholy and desire are featured again.

‘Pearls In Dirt’ was recorded at the Excess Studio by Hans Pieters, just like its predecessor ‘Touch In The Dark (2004), but additional recordings were done at the Gate Studio with Sascha Paeth who did the final production. In addition ‘Pearls In Dirt’ is the first album on Season Of Mist. Asrai is full of energy and the release will be followed by a European tour. This album includes enough surprises and diversity to expand Asrai’s success once more. Thumbs up for this sympathetic band!

Rating 85/100 (details)

http://www.asrai.net