Here I review the new album from a band with perfect timing, as only a couple of days ago we played a show together and I also reviewed the previous release “A Crown Of Curses”. Abduction play a uniquely claustrophobic brand of Black Metal. This release is due out on March 29th via Inferna Profundus Records!
- Infinite Ancient Hexes fires us right into dissonant riffs, hammering blast beats and hideous howls. There is no introduction needed for this onslaught of barbaric intensity. Abduction does not feel like a one man band with the sheer ability to create something that works unilaterally together on such a strong level to create an otherworldly entity of cosmic noise, Black Metal and ambient sufferance. The melancholic and emotionally captivating instrumental sections with the haunting, discordant vocals and synths is a gorgeous mix for fans of more unsettling music. A fantastic opening piece.
- Ultra-Terrestrial begins with some strange sampling, really setting the pace is grooving guitars that follow right behind the introduction. The blasting drums and upbeat grind of the song with the haunting leads is a symphony of sickeningly dark musical prowess that perfectly encompasses the unearthly glow of Abduction’s music with the sheer ambience of the song allowing you to be drawn into the hypnotic assaults of some excellent Black Metal. The vocals on this piece were damn menacing as were the synths that reminded me slightly of French project K.F.R.
- Convulsing At Baalbek blasts out more ferocious music without any faltering, just pure chaos. The convulsive rhythms of the instruments are certainly apt with the soaring screeches of the vocals cascading over the frenzied discordance. The project has a spectral yet cosmic vibe to the music which is indescribable in terms of comparative with another project, yes another thing I really respect and enjoy about Abduction. The bleaker sections of the piece break up the assaults for a more gnarly, drawn out feeling of foreboding and dread. This song is a progressive piece in it’s own way which I think shows the maturing of the artist behind Abduction, I do not mean progressive in a pretentious way, more as a songwriting who has grown their arsenal of atmospheric tools. A glorious piece of music that was perfectly balanced.
- Embattled draws in slowly with sampling and more ambience, a haunting soundscape of ghostly but also light music. The buzzsaw attacks gently breaking through though, adding a harsher and darker touch to things. This track has quite a tranquil feel to it in some ways but in total juxtaposition it is also frighteningly volatile. This track was a really cool experimental touch that did not feel like an interval, but like a truly epic piece of dark ambient situated within a Black Metal album, great work.
- Prayer Of Electrocution brings the full assaults back with grisly riffs, furious drums and an overall feeling of rejuvenated aggression. The songwriting, much like the other material so far, is absolutely wonderful with impacting riffs really taking the spotlight for me. The abruptly snarled vocals on this piece match the spitefully harsh song with total brilliance. There is plenty of groove and melody to be found within the music, which is like spiralling yet transcendent energy filled with a balance of darkness and light but also anguish and contrasting joy (within the upbeat sections) that to me just feels like a complete package. Another phenomenal piece of music.
- Seven Apparitions Of Suffering drops right into a soundscape of blissfully sombre guitars and the opening scream that stays with you longer than it is audible for. The waves of bombarding melancholy are profoundly gorgeous while still filled with the harsher edge that Abduction has consistently had. There is some really stunning progressive riffs with slower tempo drums that break up the assaults for some more introspective and depressive sections. The slightly psychedelic touches are in no way obnoxious but do add even more dissonance and unpredictability to the music that I think works in a really unique and strong manner to the artists credit. Monolithic walls of Black Metal hit us which are written and performed with such grace and excellence. Glorious!
- The Funeral Of Cosmic Mastery starts off with some more dark ambience, I am sure this is going to be one final blistering piece of music to leave on an unforgettable note. The convulsive riffs and drums create an ordered chaos in a similar fashion to Voivod that just blasts pure high quality Black Metal with skill, technique and most importantly, originality. The groove of the song is immediately appealing, mixed with the fantastic atmospherics and grisly harshness of the track there is certainly something to love for everybody who enjoys their music extreme and unsettling. The drawn out sections are gorgeous and built back in with intricate drum patterns that create a monstrous momentum. An absolutely brilliant way to end the album which was just entirely killer, no filler and an unforgettable experience to listen to.
A hideous concoction of potently harsh and unnerving Black Metal, filled with mystique and ugliness but utilised in a beautifully pleasant way that was nothing short of a spectacle to behold. A perfectly follow up to “A Crown Of Curses”, evolution in the projects music ability and also something entirely fresh. -9/10
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