Album Review: "Obsolescence" by Abysmal Dawn

Obsolescence

From Los Angeles, California:

Abysmal Dawn.

Every now and again, a veteran band will pass into my purview and I kind of wonder how I'd never come across them before.

The biggest example of this was Chicago/The Czech Republic's Master. I'm still flabbergasted that I'd never gotten my ears on any of their music back in the old days.

Abysmal Dawn is another act that kind of feels this way. The band was formed in 2003 and they released their first full length LP in 2005, From Ashes.

Over the years their line up has remained relatively static. In eleven years, they've only added a bass player. Obsolescence is their fourth album and being released on Relapse Records.

Abysmal Dawn

This is a modern death metal record. To me, that means the music isn't quite so formulaic, especially the drumming.

We've all heard the play by numbers death metal records...

It's also a mishmash of styles. The guitars have that classic Tampa Bay sound and rhythm style, at least some of the time.

They also break out of the death metal riffs into grooving chord progressions which makes for a nice change of pace from time to time.

The drums sound like an octopus behind the kit and I can't think of a proper simile to explain how great they are.

They're also the perfect volume and timbre. Amazing really.

The solos are jaw dropping. Melodic, musical, and never boring. Each break sounds like a song within a song.

Even the mixing is spot on. This album wins on every level.

Release: 10/28/14
Label: Relapse Records
Genre: Death Metal
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