Things have come full circle for Abscess-members Chris Reifert and Danny Coralles. After having been on Peaceville for their entire Autopsy career, they have now returned to Peaceville with Abscess after some other label adventures (Relapse, Listenable). It seems to me that Abscess never got the attention and appraisal that Autopsy got. I must admit that this promo is actually the first Abscess album in my possession. I’ve heard some Abscess stuff before, but had never actually bought it.
Anyway, Abscess offer another slab of sleazy ‘n’ gore Death Metal on this album. Chris’ vocals still sound as sick and unique as they did in the Autopsy days. This is something all those toilet grunters should get through their thick skulls. Monotonic grunts are nowhere near the real sick vocals of Chris Reifert, Stevo (of Impetigo fame) or Nefarious Death (you know who, right?). The music is mostly mid-paced with occasional doom and fast parts, and although Abscess are not technical nor breaking any speed records, they simply have that old school atmosphere and songwriting. In a time when many bands are trying to beat each other in speed with constant blasting and brutality, Abscess offer an album which sounds a lot more refreshing and, contradictio in terminis?, more original. This sickness is only to be found in other bands like Impetigo, Pungent Stench and Macabre.
From the opening track ‘Raping the Multiverse’ onward, hell breaks loose. Some very cool songs are ‘Through the Cracks of Death’, ‘Serpent of Dementia’, ‘An Asylum Below’, ‘Die for Today’ (check out the use of acoustic guitar, gotta love details!) and the short, fast ’16 Horrors’. The instrumental outro ‘Vulnavia’ could have been left off, as it doesn’t really add anything to the album (it’s too short and over before you know it).
Some details: this album was recorded at the same studio as ‘Mental Funeral’, although this production is a lot better than the one on the second Autopsy album. Furthermore, bass player Joe Allen joined the band after the recording of this album. It’s remarkable that Abscess have trouble finding a permanent bass player, since Autopsy had the same problem.
What more is there to say really? Death Metal fans who like their shit varied and old school will love this album. Fans who think that only constant blasting Death Metal rules should check this out to realize that Death Metal can sound very different.
