Abyssal | Bandcamp
Released on April 2nd through Profound Lore Records
I had heard Abyssal's first album Denouement before I picked up their surprise (self-released on January 1st this year) second album Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius. So, I somewhat knew what to expect. Pure evil, fire and brimstone (I'm looking at you 'Tchard) and Hades and hellfire!!! Prepare yourself for one hell of a ride.
Musically this album is total mayhem. Mayhem in the best of ways. The drums sit in the middle of a wall of blackened guitars and bass. What may make this album a challenge for some listeners is the vocal mix. The vocals are good, make no mistake. Ranging from earthshaking bellows to whispers and mantras, they're top notch. But they are at times hard to place. They sit in line with the drums, not standing out completely. This, I feel, adds to the ominous tone and feeling of the album. Using the vocals as an instrument on their own to invoke the evil that Abyssal are capable of.
Some people will be quick to judge this album; write it off as a Portal imitation. And while they do share similarities (and a label for physical distribution), Abyssal take more time and sound a bit dirtier to get their point across. Allowing for an epic album experience, entrance music for the fallen angel himself...
Keep an eye out on Profound Lore Records for a limited CD release of 1000 on April 2.
