This is the second album from Abyssal Rift, a death metal band from the US.
Prepare thyself for the hulking great chunk of spectral rot that is Relics of Great Ash. This is a hideous collection of malignant death metal, corroded by foul doom corruption and poisoned by industrial waste. Yep, Abyssal Rift have produced a record of dark intensity that’s worth exploring if you’re a fan of unrelenting horror.
Based on the above description, you might reasonably expect something bloated and lengthy, but not so; Relics of Great Ash is a tight 36 minutes. It’s a punishing slab of death metal fury, but balanced by infernal doom majesty, laced with grim blackened darkness, and fleshed out by synths and electronics. It’s brutal, but also mood-rich. However, it’s also atypical, following its own template as much as those laid down by the stylistic masters.
Abyssal Rift bring together their influences in compelling and creative ways. The core ingredients in Relics of Great Ash are familiar, yet the band mix them together with a strange, unearthly feel, resulting in something with a taste of its own. The band’s songwriting allows the music to range from outright brutality all the way to unsettling synthwork, covering many bases between these poles. Whether it’s colossal doom mountains that come crashing down around you, forlorn melodies that cut their way into your skull and stay there, or industrial workouts that feel like slivers of broken glass raining down upon you, Abyssal Rift demonstrate an easy talent for their chosen art.
Hidden amidst the terrifying heaviness of the record the intrepid listener will find songwriting that’s nuanced and well-developed. Abyssal Rift have arranged and structured each song so that it achieves its individual goals, while also serving the whole. The music combines its different features to ensnare, mixing standard death and doom sounds you might expect to hear with ones that you probably wouldn’t. The end result is a very strong and engaging record, one that is remarkably moreish and hook-filled, despite how unfriendly and densely packed it can first appear.
Relics of Great Ash is unconventional and strong. It’s a record of great fury, and even greater atmospheric depth. From the void, a new power arises. Abyssal Rift are here to suffocate the light.
One to absolutely not miss – essential for fans of acts such as Civerous, Esoteric, Fossilization, Incantation, Spectral Voice, Temple of Void, etc.
Wonderbox Metal 