Phrenelith – Ashen Womb – The DevilsHorns

One Listen Review

1st Listen 4 Feb 25
Reviewed 8 Feb 25

Phrenelith – Ashen Womb

Dark Descent Records / Me Saco Un Ojo Records

Released 7 Feb 25

‘DNNN DNNN DNNN DNNN’, this foreboding intro to the 3^rd album by Danish death metal outfit Phrenelith. The album is called Ashen Womb and it is a 9 track, almost 40 minute slab of apocalyptic metal. It is a strong introduction to what is a very decent listen.

After the glory of the relatively short opener, we are hit with the 1-2 punch of ‘Astral Larvae’, then ‘A Husk Wrung Dry’. Both tracks have a superb tone and a robust grunty vocals, indeed it is the vocals that are the dominant focal point of the album. So far, there is absolutely nothing to dislike about Ashen Womb. It is a very solid start.

The solidity continues throughout. ‘Stagnated Bood’ gives your liver a bit of a going over and the closing track, ‘Ashen Womb’, is the longest on the album, benefiting from the opportunity to breathe and expand.

Ashen Womb also has an absolute banger of a track. ‘Nebulae’ sits in the middle of the album, straddling it like a colossus, offering a brief example of how good Phrenelith can be.

So, what is my issue with it? A number of boxes are ticked. It is heavy, the riffs are there, the vocals are mighty and impressive. There is literally nothing to dislike about Ashen Womb. But…. it is an album that makes it hard to be excited. I am not drawn to further listens, even though I like the album. A conundrum to say the least.

The fact is, Phrenelith are a good band. They have not had a poor album yet. There will, however, be better death metal albums this year. There were better in 2024 as well.

I want to love this. It will get listened to again, but I don’t know under what circumstances.