Ovader - "Asagrim" (2025)

A review of Ovader’s album “Asagrim” (2025), an epic fusion of Viking Black Metal and Heavy Metal from Bulgaria. Homage, power, and Nordic atmosphere.
VIKING BLACK METAL REVIEW

Whenever I think of Viking Black Metal, I think of Quorthon and Bathory. For the knowledgeable fan of Black Metal, Quorthon IS Viking Black Metal, and no matter how many mutations the subgenre had, it all circles back to the Swed giant. With that, what we find in Ovader’s music – which I discovered a few weeks ago – is not an amazing evolution of the subgenre, but a very honourable homage, and I am all for this approach to music. Although I do appreciate evolution – to a certain extent – I support good music, and Ovader is good music in my book, and if some musicians prefer to render homage and extend artists’ creations to new limits, please do. And I do not mean copying or emulating completely; but paying homage, as mentioning before, to an artist’s work.

Bulgarian musician, Ovader brings forth Nordic inspired Black Metal, which is very popular in Eastern Europe, as we all know and welcome. I do love a good Viking Black Metal record, one that is able to paint images of Viking and Saxons slaying each other in the battlefield, of castles and Drakkars sailing down river. It is Epic and Majestic, the way good Viking Black Metal should be. But “Asagrim” does not only live within Black Metal, but also inside Epic Heavy Metal, and this fusion of sounds, is amazing… and bloody epic! “Journey to the Well of Knowledge” features guest vocalist, Woundheir (Dimholt, Embrace by Dark, Impenitence), an excellent choice, given that his voice has a certain tone and “warmth”, suiting the track perfectly. “Rulers of Fate” is Epic Heavy Metal with Black Metal vocals… and it is a great track!

In short, Ovader’s music is particularly interesting and dynamic, it does not “reinvent the wheel”, but as mentioned at the beginning of this review, I am all for homages with charisma and personality, so go for it! Ovader reminds me of Forefather, in the sense that their sound is not that distant (the vocals, I know). In short, give this a go if you fell that Odin is you man, and you were once a Viking, in a very distant life, like most people that saw “Vikings”. To battle we march!

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