Abyssal "Antikatastaesis"

[MacabreEternal]

For anyone unfamiliar with the work of Abyssal I would recommend that they first take the time to seek out their previous two albums before lending an ear to this opus.  "Denoument" and "Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius" are two fine examples of dark, squally DM with just enough tangible structure to set them apart from the Portals, Aevangelists and Impetuous Rituals of this world.

The first two tracks of their third full length "Anitkatastaesis" are pretty much an extension of that earlier style.  Album opener "I Am The Alpha & The Omega" is a frenzied knife attack using a selection of blades of various lengths and sharpness to stab the furious pace of the music into your very being.   Second track "The Cornucopian" then continues this familiar style.  The problem comes with "The Veil of Transcendence" when mid song a sample of what sounds like an ice cream van seeps into the song during a reprise from the frenzied DM.  This sample then stays as the blastbeats kick back in and to be perfectly frank just does not belong there.  I had to look twice across my open tabs to make sure an advert for a bank or insurance company hadn't started playing such is the off tempo and out of kilter nature of the piano notes plinked into the song.

Unfortunately the problems persist as the album goes on.  Abyssal still manage to scare the shit out of you with the furious blastbeats of "Telomeric Erosion" but then a completely unexpected melodic reprise occurs which again causes any impact built up from the initial 2 minutes of the track to be dissolved.

The atmospheric build of "A Casual Landscape" is alright but after 3 and a quarter minutes you are ready for the track to start. However, the shaman like chants just don't fit when the DM starts, making it a redundant attempt to blend the track. It's like the tape from the chamber music album being recorded in the studio next door got mixed into the Abyssal album tapes and the end result is not pleasant.

"Chrysalis" starts with a melodic edge yet somehow has a filthy dark haze over the top.  Here the melodic reprise works perfectly and the jazzy drum and bass fills in the background compliment the music perfectly.  It is proof for me that just when I thought Abyssal had lost all sense of cohesion and structure they can still put together a solid and well though out track.  It is more melodic than anything I have heard by them so far but it is also too long and eventually starts to become almost post-metal in the end.

As a last hope I looked to album closer "Delere Auctorem Rerum Ut UniversumInfinitum Noscas" to save this very patchy release from obscurity.  It starts strong enough for sure building an epic crescendo but then the track goes into build up all over again which does an excellent job but just seems to duplicate the work done 90 seconds earlier.

It is not to say that Abyssal have lost it on their third album (I am not typing that fucking title out again).  There are some good ideas thrown in but the chants, slow picked time changes, infusion of atmosphere and wider use of melody are just not placed well in the main.  The album feels like the dreaded "collection" of songs as opposed to a whole piece.  The flashes of brilliance are there but the delivery comes up short on a consistent basis.

Edited July 8, 2015 by MacabreEternal

[FatherAlabaster]

Thoughtful review. I've only had a chance to get through the album twice, so I'm reluctant to write it off yet. I actually really enjoyed the melodic sections of "Telomeric Erosion" and other tracks on the second half of the album, but I agree with you in general: it doesn't seem to have the same level of incident and musical detail as their previous albums. It's not what I wanted from them. And that fucking sample, I had the same reaction, at first I thought it was music from outside. It does link up with a riff eventually, but it's still a bad idea. 

Edited July 5, 2015 by FatherAlabaster
Sp

[~Mere~]

Been meaning to check these guys out.

 

[FatherAlabaster]

Been meaning to check these guys out.

 

 Go for "Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius" first, IMO.

[~Mere~]

 Go for "Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius" first, IMO.

Well shit, I just started Denouement. I'm only 2 mins in so I'll put that one on  

[FatherAlabaster]

No, Denouement is really good too, great riffs on there, maybe just not as mature. If that matters.

[~Mere~]

Too late lol I just put on Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius.

 

I'll still check out the other 2 albums.

[Frostaudn]

I'm not familiair with their other stuff, but I listened to Antikatastaesis a few times by now and to be honest: I really dig this album.

[MacabreEternal]

I think coming to it fresh is an advantage but still those structures are all wrong.

[FatherAlabaster]

I'm not familiair with their other stuff, but I listened to Antikatastaesis a few times by now and to be honest: I really dig this album.

 You should definitely give the other albums a go, but I wouldn't be surprised if you preferred the more atmospheric approach of this one. Personally, I find their other albums more exciting.

[Frostaudn]

 You should definitely give the other albums a go, but I wouldn't be surprised if you preferred the more atmospheric approach of this one. Personally, I find their other albums more exciting.

I will certainly give them a try, thanks.