Abduction – Existentialismus
Abduction – Existentialismus
Candlelight Records
21/02/2025
Review by Oli Gonzalez
8/10
Many things can be said about the underground Black Metal scene in the UK. For decades, we’ve witnessed wave after wave of the genre’s seminal acts appearing from the Nordic countries. Let me be the first to tell you about the wave of Black Metal artists that are emerging here in the UK, including Abduction. Led by frontman and mastermind A/V, the midlands act have always done things their own way. While respecting the seminal acts of the genre, their furious modern approach to Black Metal has landed them slots at festivals such as Bloodstock, Damnation, and Fortress, as well as tours and appearances on mainland Europe. Their upcoming release “Existentialismus” promises to expand on this devotion to individuality and lack of bounding to one genre even further.
I did get a sneaky preview of this almost one year ago at a live show in Manchester. However, getting to listen to the finished product is a prospect I couldn’t wait to get my grubby mitts on. So let’s dive right into the abyss…
Vocally, A/V sounds more gristle and fierce than ever before, with growls and shrieks drenched in primitive angst! Though a sparse exploration of cleaner vocals adds a much surprising but very welcome change of pace. An excellent start!
There are rare moments of calm and almost ambient textures. It’s a ruse though, to lure you into a false sense of security. You know hell is going to be unleashed but you can’t hide, only run from the onslaught. I would have liked to have seen more of this, and the pace slowed at more regular intervals. For all the intense passages, it can get a little samey? Take a look at Post-Metal act Amenra and how they use their intense passages more sparingly. I think the band had the right idea on ‘Vomitting at Baalbek’, which seemed more suitable.
Production wise, this is good. Very good. Just not great. It doesn’t feel as though we’re getting the very best out of each instrument. I want the guitars to be crushing my ear drums and the vocals to take centre stage. Sadly, it feels like both are sitting too low in the mix. Though raising the levels may compromise the satisfying atmospheric qualities that are present in the mix. Having seen the band live, I know they’re a completely different animal on stage, and raise their game significantly! I just wonder if they’re unable to capture that live sound in the studio. Though this record should be enough to convince you to see them in the flesh. Rumour has it that they’ll play this in full at this year’s Fortress Festival. If that’s the case, I’ll be front row and centre. After all, we can safely assume that the UK’s underground Metal scene is in safe hands if Abduction are going to continue producing records of this standard. A diamond just in need of polishing.
‘A Legacy Of Sores’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. A Legacy of Sores
02. Pyramidia Liberi
03. Truth is as Sharp a Sword as Vengeance
04. Blau ist die Farbe der Ewigkeit
05. Razors of Occam
06. Vomiting at Baalbek
LINKS:
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