Forgotten Gems-Asgard-In the ancient days

Noise
1986

Originally known as Angel Dust, this band from Holland would soon change their name to Asgard likely avoid being confused with Germany's Angel Dust. They played a largely mid-tempo style of classic metal and on a few occasions they close to an early pace. They remind me of Witch Cross only slightly heavier and they are also a little like Hallows Eve's first album, but not quite as heavy. I never heard this album until recently, but instantly took it. However if I had heard it in 1986 I may not have been as impressed. Back then I was into thrash and Argard's sound is a little behind the times for the thrash movement that was rising at the time. That may very be why they didn't make a big splash back then. However tracks like "Before the morning","Possessed by evil" and "Screaming Knight" are powerful if not highly original metal. Now I hear it as a solid effort with a real attempt to blend early 80's style metal with in the faster picking of the beginning stages of thrash. I wish the album had another song or two as it ends quicker than I was hoping for. Still Asgard's "In the ancient days" sounds pretty good 25 years after it's release.