ALBUM REVIEW: Outre-Tombe – Abysse Mortifere

Quebec Death Metal necromancers OUTRE-TOMBE return with their 3rd album, set for release via Temple Of Mystery Records on October 31st. Read my review of its predecessor HERE.

Weird Sci-Fi sounds strike in with an inhuman display of presumably analogue synths, immediately pelting this album off the face of the Earth before a single riff has been played. Warm bass tones and doom-ridden guitars open the charnel pits with a crawling and festering presence of old school malice while the drums build up with a very clear mix showcasing the overtly eldritch soundscapes. Hideously howled vocals take us further into the depths as the monstrous concoctions of macabre musicianship fall further into the abyssal realms with an elemental fury contorting into one savage vision, cast from each member to drive forth as one pummelling force of pure morbidity. The Quebecois influence on their music which takes all of the feverishly fetid elements of Nihilist, Entombed, Bolt Thrower, Asphyx and other titans of Death Metal while injecting something very uniquely Outre-Tombe into the mix is something special. Those already familiar with the bands first 2 records will know already of their mighty music, which is of equal quality here. Pulling away some of the crusty Swedish layer, the sound here is reaching further back in time while the songwriting seems to be ever-evolving. An interesting juxtaposition that they pull off gloriously, likely due to the impassioned and fervent execution of Death Metal that the band commands with grace and skill.

Betwixt an impenetrable layer of murky darkness, the whole band clearly knows their own role. The drumming is busy and varied with a monolithic force attacking the entire kit, while the blistering bass and guitar onslaught ruptures flesh with piercing, meaty and bludgeoning riffs. Vocally, the blend of growls and shrieks feels sincere and demonic, suiting the instrumental array triumphantly and moreover tying the band together as a unit of total demolishing vitriol. The occasional break for d-beats and sleazy leads such as on “Coupe Gorge” brings back the old school Swedish venom while not detracting from the venomous rampage at hand, following a rather different pathway of obscurity. I think it is important to note that while clearly influenced by the Swedes, there is an equal amount of Autopsy, Asphyx, Bolt Thrower, Benediction and various other classic Death Metal bands impressed into their sound, which they use as inspiration but are not confined by. There is clear respect and utilisation of the old school sound but there is more to Outre-Tombe than worship of the greats. The songwriting is resplendently filthy, dragging you into the dungeons of some charnel tale, wherein otherworldly horrors will awaken you to your doom.

Impressively, such old school Death Metal can still be hugely unpredictable. Just when a groove gets hooked into the skin, Outre-Tombe unleash some blasting carnage or doomy atmospherics and then lurch into another direction. Now on some records that could be jarring or irritating, whereas here we just see a frantic but yet obviously thought-out vision coming to life in a rather warped manner. Everything seems to make sense in its own lair of insanity, which just creates a gripping listen that truly excites the curiosity in the mind. Where will they take us next in our charnel journey of the macabre? The answer remains shrouded in mystery and yet the consistent quality both on this record and through the bands discography has kept my interest since discovering them, and continue to do so here. Feeling somewhere between a modern class and a lost treasure, this is the exact kind of Death Metal I think will set the underground ablaze and yet also retain its obscure charm.

Another vibrant, enigmatic and yet instantaneously classic feeling album from Outre-Tombe. Their unique personality is developed here and yet the feel of their previous works and influences are worn proudly on their sleeves, they do not allow themselves to become complacent which can be the death of an old school style Death Metal band. An exhilarating new addition!