Band:	Ash Pool
Album:	World Turns On Its Hinge
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	August 2007

01. Sin Of Life
02. Crucifixion Fantasy
03. Vices Triumph Over Wisdom
04. Shade Of Rape
05. Under Zyklon Blue
06. Penetrated Slave
07. Rapist's Thrusts
08. The Sin Of Nature Is The Sign Of God

Ash Pool. An all american band, aiming for the top. The top of extreme obscenity and perversion, to be exact. After stepping up to crush the opposition in 2005, they released their debut album "World Turns On Its Hinge" rather anonymously. At least, it's been a long time since I've heard anyone mentioning them, while they are definitely not bad. Incorporating both Punk and Noise to a foundation of Black Metal, they are bound to lurk in the underground forever. Which will not be such a big deal to them, as it is the only place they should be. Near the core of Black Metal.

Their overwhelming, abrasive power akin to Akitsa is bound to shock the majority and charm the remaining few. Punkish, overdistorted and repetive riffs set the world in motion. For the next half hour, it will not cease to slowly swing on its rusty hinge. In the first half of the album, the music is fast, rather repetitive and noisy. Black Metal done so raw, it'll deafen you for at least a week if you're not an experienced listener. Image early Darkthrone, but much louder and obscene. From the fifth song "Under Zyklon Blue" the mood slowly shifts. Instead of punkish, the riffs get doomier and overall atmosphere gets more threatening instead of abrasive.

One of the two bandmembers, as it is unknown who does what, sounds as if you have your crappy iPod earplugs on too loud. You know, all the sounds gets flattened out and harsh, as if they are unwantedly distorted, which is quite painful for your ears. That's exactly what he sounds like, albeit that he is not so harsh in the mix that it hurts. That same vocalist, or perhaps the other guy, also does some very surprising clean singing in the background in the last song "The Sin Of Nature Is The Sign Of God".

"World Turns On Its Hinge" is a rather interesting and varying release. When the first seconds of audio terrorism invaded my ears, it did not do a thing for me. Little did I know, that it would both evolve into doomish Black Metal halfway through the record, and that the first punkish half of the album would grow on me that much. If it does not hit you in your first listening, do not give up on this immediately. After a few listens it might reveal itself. It might even cause some serious addiction problems.