Asinhell
Copenhell - 2024
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
Asinhell is what some might consider a supergroup. Most widely famous of course is Michael Poulsen (Volbeat, ex-Dominus), who’s solely taking care of guitar duties in this entity, and he’s joined in the band by drummer Morten Toft Hansen (Raunchy, ex-HateSphere) and vocalist Marc Grewe (Insidious Disease, ex-Morgoth). Filling up the live positions were none other than Jacob Hansen (Invocator, ex-Maceration) on bass and Flemming C. Lund (live-Volbeat, ex-Invocator, ex-Raunchy).
Asyoucansee, these are all experienced and well known men all in their own right, so now the question was just how this would hold up as a collaboration.
“Hello Copenhell! We are Asinhell! Are you ready for some old school death metal?!”
- Marc Grewe (vocals)
Asmentionedabove, old school death metal is exactly the business that Asinhell is dealing in. Not far removed from the Stockholm death metal strain popularised in the late 80’s to early 90’s by such bands as Entombed, Dismember, Unleashed, and many more. Given this, you’d be hard pressed to find anything revolutionary or even surprising in Asinhell’s music - they know where they’re coming from, and that’s what they’re sticking to, so take it or leave it. That’s not to say that the music was bad, because it perfectly lived up to what it was trying to achieve. You could stick their debut album from the year before, Impii Hora, next to any of the old Stockholm albums, and it would fit right in. For me, maybe not quite as memorable riffs, but this was the first time I heard them, so there’s that.
Asaliveband however, now that’s where Asinhell truly surprised! While everyone’s foot was solidly planted on a monitor in true rock fashion, none of them were averse to moving around and giving a lively show. Despite the grim subject matter of the music and lyrics, they were all smiles and positivity - no contrived eviler than thou attitude at all, which some other bands go for - and I liked it!
This is of course where some of all that collected stage experience pays off. Asinhell flawlessly delivered a performance that was entertaining, uplifting, and energising; the last part especially important here on the eve of the last day of Copenhell. In fact, the moshpit in front of the Hades Stage kicked off pretty much as soon as the music began, and it didn’t let up until the gig was over!
Heck, even when Grewe accidentally announced the wrong title of a song, and the band stopped him, he took it with a smile, shrugging it off with a grin and a joke; “Oh, not that one? Ok, so I guess we’ll have to play a cover then.”
Aswereachtheend, there’s not all that much more to add. Asinhell delivered a surprisingly good concert, and my only problem with it was that the music didn’t grab me. While I don’t hold to the whole supergroup terminology in general, at least the delivery here was super, and we were given a good boost for the rest of the night.
Setlist:
Desert Of Doom
Trophies
Pyromantic Scryer
Inner Sancticide
The Ultimate Sin
Island Of Dead Men
Leprosy (Death cover)
Wolfpack Laws
Impii Hora
Pits Of Utumno / Ridden With Disease / Internal Bleeding
(Morgoth / Autopsy / Obituary covers)
Fall Of The Loyal Warrior
Asyoucansee, these are all experienced and well known men all in their own right, so now the question was just how this would hold up as a collaboration.
“Hello Copenhell! We are Asinhell! Are you ready for some old school death metal?!”
- Marc Grewe (vocals)
Asmentionedabove, old school death metal is exactly the business that Asinhell is dealing in. Not far removed from the Stockholm death metal strain popularised in the late 80’s to early 90’s by such bands as Entombed, Dismember, Unleashed, and many more. Given this, you’d be hard pressed to find anything revolutionary or even surprising in Asinhell’s music - they know where they’re coming from, and that’s what they’re sticking to, so take it or leave it. That’s not to say that the music was bad, because it perfectly lived up to what it was trying to achieve. You could stick their debut album from the year before, Impii Hora, next to any of the old Stockholm albums, and it would fit right in. For me, maybe not quite as memorable riffs, but this was the first time I heard them, so there’s that.
Asaliveband however, now that’s where Asinhell truly surprised! While everyone’s foot was solidly planted on a monitor in true rock fashion, none of them were averse to moving around and giving a lively show. Despite the grim subject matter of the music and lyrics, they were all smiles and positivity - no contrived eviler than thou attitude at all, which some other bands go for - and I liked it!
This is of course where some of all that collected stage experience pays off. Asinhell flawlessly delivered a performance that was entertaining, uplifting, and energising; the last part especially important here on the eve of the last day of Copenhell. In fact, the moshpit in front of the Hades Stage kicked off pretty much as soon as the music began, and it didn’t let up until the gig was over!
Heck, even when Grewe accidentally announced the wrong title of a song, and the band stopped him, he took it with a smile, shrugging it off with a grin and a joke; “Oh, not that one? Ok, so I guess we’ll have to play a cover then.”
Aswereachtheend, there’s not all that much more to add. Asinhell delivered a surprisingly good concert, and my only problem with it was that the music didn’t grab me. While I don’t hold to the whole supergroup terminology in general, at least the delivery here was super, and we were given a good boost for the rest of the night.
Setlist:
Desert Of Doom
Trophies
Pyromantic Scryer
Inner Sancticide
The Ultimate Sin
Island Of Dead Men
Leprosy (Death cover)
Wolfpack Laws
Impii Hora
Pits Of Utumno / Ridden With Disease / Internal Bleeding
(Morgoth / Autopsy / Obituary covers)
Fall Of The Loyal Warrior
Asinhell
