Abhorration - Demonolatry (2024)

4★

Coming off their mixed but promising demo, After Winter Comes War, from 2021, Norway's own ABHORRATION have returned with a vengeance! Chock full of maniacal riffs, destructive rhythms, and feral vocals, their debut full-length, Demonolatry, will be sure to satisfy the needs of anyone searching for some new primordial-sounding death metal.

Think back to the mid-to-late-'80s when bands were thinking of how far they could push the envelope, how far they could take the extremity of metal before it would blow up in their face. Think of Necrovore's Divus de Mortuus demo from 1987, Poison's Into the Abyss demo from the same year, or even the Slaughter Lord comp from 2000 entitled Thrash 'til Death 86-87. It's this raw blend of so many metal styles -- death metal, thrash metal, and even a tinge of first-wave black metal -- that lends itself to this chaotic wonder of an album. And while wearing their very obvious influences on their sleeve, it never strays from this primordial black/death/thrash concoction, delivering the goods in a succinct yet sinister manner.

The vocals? Dark and menacing, with a sharp bite to them. The drums? Lethal. The amount of groove amongst all the pummeling rhythm work is truly impressive and only makes the songs more memorable. The bass? Low and growling, like a beast awakening from its hibernation period. The riffs and solos? Off the charts. The tremolo riffs will bash your head in, then the solos will kick you in the groin before knocking you out.

If you're a fan of that evil blend of metal styles, look no further -- ABHORRATION's Demonolatry is here to serve your ears some swift justice.

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FAVORITE TRACKS: “Ai Apaec,” “Invoke Them,” “The Grace of Immolation”

FOR FANS OF: Possessed, Necrovore, Sadistic Intent

Encyclopædia Metallum

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