Asphyx is one of the longest running death metal bands from the Netherlands – even though they have no original members left. They don’t play all that often in the Netherlands unfortunately, so if they do, it is time to check them out. This time they were invited by Graceless to headline their release show. A third band called Release the River was added to the bill too. I missed due to logistical reasons.

Anyway the first band I saw was Graceless who are from Leiden and now released their fourth album. I never been much of a fan of their work. It’s rather run-off-the-mill mid-tempo death metal with some doom sections. Nothing too complicated. And what particularly annoys me is the sparse drumming which seems to hold the band back instead of driving them. Their newer material sounded rather similar to the older material; maybe with a few more doomier passages. That said they have gained quite a following – I guess mostly in the Netherlands though as the club was rather full and they got a lot of response from the audience. They band played alright except some of the guitar solos were quite sloppy.

Now Asphyx is a different cup of tea. They have a very distinct riff and arrangement style, especially with the classic line-up. Yet the newer material as quite good too. The opened with a tape recording of the Quest For Absurdity and burst into Vermin of the The Rack album. Most of the songs were from the period after the revival. It Came from the Skies, Molten Black Earth, Deathhammer, Scorbutics. Mostly the faster material it seems. But there was more classic stuff too, Asphyx, Wasteland of Terror. Martin did quite some chatting in between songs and some attempts at weird dry humour. The ended the set with The Rack and then came back to do one more song, namely The Last one on Earth with the more-and-more relevant lyrics of a dying earth. It also is the only song with a guitar solo and somehow they shortened it which is a bit of a shame. Anyway, quite a good gig.