Year released: 2007 Duration: 33:46 Tracks: 9 Genre: Black Metal Rating: 4.25/5 Date reviewed: December 25, 2007 Reviewed by: Pagan Shadow Vandod – As Vandod saw its debut back in 2004 when Henrik Wender (guitars) and Daniel Wikforss (drums) got together to record their first song. The recording of this first release took place during the winter of 2006-07. Vandod have their own particular sound and vibe. You can only fall into their dwindle spiral while enjoying this wicked piece of Scandinavian metal. "As" stands for an intense, sick and melodic type of doomy Black Metal with a certain progressive edge on the side. One moment you're in full speed, blasting Black Metal, and then the song turns into a great crushing doom pace and mood. Some tracks are just deliciously devastating such as: "A Path I Have Chosen" and my overall favorite number: "For the Wicked", home of greatly crushing riffs! On a couple tracks, I'm puzzled and wondering if I'm hearing right but, as far as I could tell, a trombone or some brass instrument is adding a little haunted touch. You can hear them on "Dio" and on "Of Unearthly Thoughts". The vocals rank from clean/solemn chant to rasps and growls which contribute to the wickedness of their sound. That last one happens to be, by the way, very well produced. "As" is a short 33 minutes opus made of 3-4 minutes long compositions, but it is far from being short of extreme and sickly pleasant listening moments. http://www.metalcrypt.com/