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ABYSSOS
A friend of mine once summoned me and asked that I taste the wicked fruits of ABYSSOS at his abode. I was skeptical, as this particular individual had a more distinct love of traditional Black Metal than I surely did (I don't like it at all). After a song or two I was convinced that ABYSSOS was a talented band worthy of further attention.This debut firmly established the band as a force in the Black Metal subgenre that includes what we now so affectionately term, Vampiric Metal. No other label seems more appropriate. This is dark, sinister, demon-conjuring Metal that smothers the listener with enchanting technical prowess while never losing that foreboding, almost medieval atmosphere. Credit the band for being so accomplished at formulating such a rich and dynamic feel while shredding away and delivering waves of transitional structures and mysterious melodic twists. Additionally, one might expect the vocals on this album to be of the traditional shrieking variety but actually, they are quite tolerable and often intelligible.
What I really liked about this recording, apart from the great technical and complex riffing was the edge-of-your-seat tempo variations, which range from level-headed speeds to sudden bursts of conniptive blasting . The fluidity of the album stays intact amongst all the changing musical tides and I am left with little doubt about how seriously the three individuals who partook on this opus take their craft. Bolstered by a nice crisp sound engineering, this album scores big with its shadowy persona and grandiose evil.
Fans of the more melodic forms of Death and Black Metal should get much usage out of this disc. I know I most certainly have. Should you obtain this disc, be certain to grab a few black candles on your way home. It'll enhance the listening experience.
