Review by Ryan Harding

ABIGOR: CHANNELING THE QUINTESSENCE OF SATAN Napalm Records

Austrian black metallers ABIGOR offer their most intimidating breakneck album yet. Thurisaz has assumed vocals with Silenius' departure, but this forges little change to the style. It took me about a month of frequent listening to understand what was going on in CHANNELING's eight tracks. They are a blur, as guitarist Kubak shows little concern that many will find his riffs unmemorable, which ironically is their biggest strength. They are well written and stunningly precise, layered with a frenetic lead guitar and an almost as frenzied rhythm. The next riff is always a surprise. Their complexity runs circles around memory, but again, that's the incentive to keep listening.

Every track explodes into hyperspeed, carried by some very pummeling snare hits. The drums and rhythm guitar got the shaft on the last ABIGOR, an oversight corrected this time around. The synth fundamental to SUPREME IMMORTAL ART is absent here, as though it was never a part of ABIGOR. Still present are very brief ambient intros and interludes which establish a strong atmosphere, reminiscent of the OPUS IV album. Initial listens aren't without their instant observations, such as the piercing guitar work opening "Pandemonic Revelation," the blistering speed revival that ends "Demon's Vortex," and the final track which despite its mere three sections remains evasive thanks to a little production experimentation. With more listening, you will find a very satisfying forty-one minute journey into labyrinthian high speed composition, unique in black metal and true to ABIGOR.

4 SKULLS

This review copyright 1999 E.C.McMullen Jr.

Return to Shadow Music