Reviews : Albums : Abysmal Dawn, "From Ashes"

Hailing from Los Angeles, Abysmal Dawn is a welcome addition to the death metal scene right off the bat. The band's debut, From Ashes is a throwback to 90s Tampa death metal with modern speed and brutality and a little black metal influence thrown in. The bottom line: This record smokes, front to back through all nine tracks as much the first time it's on as it does on the subsequent, and necessary, repeat listens.

Combining crushing drumming and complex guitar leads and solos alongside a devastating death metal vocal attack, Abysmal Dawn just reaffirmed that death metal can still sound fresh in 2006. When it seems everything has already been done in the genre, and the inclusion of breakdowns and ridiculous riffs have oversaturated the traditional death metaller's market, Abysmal Dawn is a breath of fresh air that still retains an oddly familiar fervor. Strangely enough, this band ought to appeal to Morbid Angel, Bloodbath, and Nile fans alike, but in the end it's death metal done right.

From Ashes has pretty much been on repeat for the last few days, and we can chalk that up to the catchiness of the solos and riffs (which are in abundance) that rampage through the record alongside music that would make Morbid Angel collectively smile. "Blacken Sky" showcases the guttural delivery of guitarist/vocalist Charles Elliott's pipes, reminiscent of Mikael Akerfeld's Bloodbath days, alongside Elliott and Jamie Boulanger's twin guitar devastation and the incredibly tight rhythm section of Terry Barajas (spot on drumming) and Carlos Arriola (bass) in perfect fashion. Throw in some ridiculously, and meticulously, good solos, creative song structure, and multiple that by the album's nine tracks, and From Ashes is aggressive, brutal, technical, and pretty damn good. It's going to be tough to top this release in the straight-up death metal category this year, and with a live show rivaling the record's sound, these guys ought to be going places.

Standout Tracks    Blacken Sky    Crown Desire    Salting The Earth    Wicked Impulse

Bob.D