ALBUM REVIEW: Abominator – The Fire Brethren

Australian black/death metal titans Abominator have been a consistent force since 1994. Now with their sixth album to be unleashed by Hells Headbangers on October 31st, it’s time to see if they’ve still got it…

Ominous chimes and ambience begin the record with a strong sense of tension. Savage riffs and pulverising drums kick in with a demonically tough snarling vocal. The instant blend of Australian bands like Bestial Warlust with Canadian bands like Blasphemy is clearly present and it makes for an unforgiving listen from the very first seconds. Blistering solos and endless punishing guitars ride waves of relentless drums with the vocals retaining that animalistic hostility in every syllable. Possessing the experience of 30 years playing in several bands, this duo are refined and tight in their delivery without losing any of the spontaneity or danger of their craft in the process. The blending of the lead and rhythm guitars is superb, like a hellish portal opening before continuing to swirl in the murky darkness of the unknown. The mix on the drums is massive, which is essential to a record like this not turning into some flaccid husk of percussive failures. From the cutting drive of the snare, razor-wire guitars can fly out in tendrilous fashion to lacerate all in their path. Similarly the presence of the vocals in the mix can be really felt. This is a really well produced record and has a truly archaic yet precise and lethal sound to it. Adam Calaitzis has nailed the mixing and mastering duties.

Scorched blackened wings swoop down from the skies delivering payloads of nuclear metal vitriol. Each menacing track flows scornfully from the last with the storming precision of a missile fired into the face of god. The cover artwork is another part of this record I am extremely fond of. Chris Moyen may be more known for his black and white pieces but I think some of his most interesting are his colour works such as those for Imprecation, Purtenance and so on. This album cover is an evocative and intimidating visual that suits the beastly and malicious music contained with its sleeve. Furthering the Ross Bay Cult feelings on this record, the Ryan Förster-esque pick slides always make a guitar riff more powerful and Abominator definitely have some well-placed uses of this technique here. The chaotic movements from idea to idea feel volatile and yet string together very effectively to keep you on your toes. So give them your full attention.

Interestingly, this is quite a long album, at least for its style. Punching in at 47 minutes, that’s probably a third longer than you’d expect it to be. Does it get boring? Not really, no. Perhaps it could be a little more concise, as I think anything going for a more primitive sound; less is often more. That said, it remains an impactful record that I shall certainly return to and contains enough dynamics to overcome the minor drawback (if you can even call it one) I mentioned. Sometimes it’ll be something as simple as a more melancholic chord to give a sense of gloom to the otherwise triumphant Satanic pummelling. But these smaller details are what make an album and Abominator does not neglect them or cut corners. The structuring of the individual songs and the record as a whole is done in such a way to cause maximum mayhemic destruction. Relaying only the most unholy and violent ideas they can muster, these eight pieces of music are a storm of sulphuric savagery that will certainly mutilate the weak who stumble across it while emboldening all true underground maniacs in the process.

Bestial evil and death worshipping triumph. This profane opus is an untamed and unwieldy listen of bludgeoning demonic warfare that hammers nails thoroughly into every part of your corpse before opening a pit to the hellish abysses below. If charging drums, maelstroms of guitar and perversely roaring vocals isn’t your bag, run for it. If you’re a demoniac who seeks rusted hammering black/death metal majesty; you have found it. The Devil’s metal is alive and well down under…