Elimination – Echoes Of The Abyss
Elimination – Echoes Of The Abyss
Self-Released
Release Date: 29/10/2021
Running Time:
Review by Beth Jones
8/10
This may make me go down in people’s estimation, but Thrash is a genre that, in the past, I have blanket ignored. Classic Thrash just isn’t my thing. I find it, dare I say, a little samey and boring (We can’t all like everything). But recently I’ve been listening to a fair number of more modern Thrash bands, and I have to say that they really appeal to my eclectic proggy brain. They’re angry and violent enough to be Thrash, but they have more about them, and the ability to explore. And the subject of today’s review definitely fall into this category.
UK Thrashers, Elimination, are on their 3rd album, after originally forming in 2007, then taking a bit of a hiatus between 2013 and 2017. Their press release says that they are “pushing themselves musically and thematically into a new era” with “Echoes Of The Abyss”, so what does it actually sound like?
There’s a simple answer to that really – bloody good!
Opening with ‘Disciples Of The Beast’, we are instantly introduced to something a little different. Droning chords and twin guitars tracking each other build the atmosphere to lead into the track. This gives way to some raw and punishing vocals and rhythms, hinting at Classic Thrash, just with some extra oomph!
The use of two guitarists, who are both equally skilled in the way of noodling twiddly diddly solos, as well as punchy speed riffage, works really well with their sound, too. The sound, incidentally, is explorative and intense from the get go, and this never lets up throughout the album.
‘This Is War’ features a guest appearance from Shrapnel’s Aarran Tucker, which adds another layer to the sound, but also makes this track into the most standard Thrash number on the album. It is hellishly catchy, and I’ve been singing along with it, and even discovering it as an earworm at ridiculous times of the day and night (I must give myself a serious talking to. I appear to be enjoying a genre that I always said I didn’t, and this will do nothing for my credibility as someone who knows what they like, and can talk with a broad scope of knowledge on the subject – damn you imposter syndrome)!!!
There’s some super guitar work in ‘Price of Insanity’, and ‘Victim By Design’ features some machine gun drumming, and schizophrenic guitars, which give it a real urgency, and the intensity of a battering ram to ones…erm… crown jewels (I’m surmising the pain this causes, but all told, it’s a lot)!
‘The Nameless City’ enters the realms of the more exploratory again, with varying sections, changes of rhythm and tempo, and some great displays of technical ability. ‘Blind’ leads us towards the final movement of the album. This is a track that moves from the laboured slowness of the chorus to groove laden riffing sections that make you move. It’s interesting. I like it.
The final track on the album, ‘Infernal’ almost has the essence of 90s Grunge hanging around it in parts, as well as some classic Heavy Metal. It’s an epic track too, at over 10 minutes. But we do get back to the familiar punishing Thrash that makes me want to crank it up to stupid levels and lose my shit to it.
All in all, this is a very pleasing album, from a band who have decided to give this whole music business shit another go. I like it a lot. I think I actually might like thrash now, too. Nicely done Elimination!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Disciples Of The Beast
02. Black Wings
03. This Is War (feat. Aarran Tucker of Shrapnel)
04. Price Of Insanity
05. Victim By Design
06. The Nameless City
07. Blind
08. Infernal
LINE-UP:
Neil Stevens – Bass & Lead Vocals,
Leigh Rumsby – Guitar & Backing Vocals
David Hill – Guitar & Backing Vocals
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Beth Jones and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
