This is the fourth album from Danish solo black metal band Afsky.
If you aren’t familiar with Afsky, make sure you also check out 2018’s Sorg, 2020’s Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død, and 2023’s Om Hundrede År. None will disappoint. Which leads us to Fællesskab, and its 45 minutes of new material. Can the artist behind Afsky maintain his winning streak of quality black metal albums?
A resounding yes. He has succeeded in achieving new heights of Afsky-ness, in fact.
The first few seconds are quite jarring, but after that, we’re straight into Afsky’s trademark blackened atmospheres. It’s a continuation of the artist’s signature style, but also a distillation of every strength that came before. Fællesskab is striking in its potency. The songs combine the rawness of Sorg, the well-developed songwriting of Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død, and the impactful power of Om Hundrede År, all with a new touch that belongs entirely to itself. As such, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that, given more time to sink in, Fællesskab could very likely be the best Afsky album so far.
The dark melodies are imbued with well-crafted feeling, and the static-like vocals one of the artist’s most piercing performances. There is a sadness to Afsky’s material, a melancholy that’s tangible. However, despite sharing some elements of the depressive black metal style, it never adopts them fully, therefore avoiding becoming too lost in its own maudlin misery. Instead, Fællesskab balances despondent moods with emotive richness and deep blackened atmospheres that’s born from the classic second wave style. It makes for a strong sound.
Well, I must say I wasn’t expecting anything this tasty from Afksy. Don’t get me wrong, I really like Afksy’s past albums, and have listened to them many, many times apiece. However, Fællesskab has managed to take the quintessential core of Afsky’s music and delivered it in fully rendered form across six black metal songs that are, quite simply, great. It’s not materially different from what came before it, it’s just…better. What more is there to say other than that, really?
Essential listening.
Wonderbox Metal 
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