Initially starting out as a gore influenced grind band particularly on their first three albums, 1999’s The Purity Of Perversion, 2001’s Engineering The Dead and 2003’s Goremageddon: The Saw And The Carnage Done, Belgium act Aborted have over their last couple of releases decided to branch out beyond the limited confines of their former sound to settle for a more straightforward brutal death metal sound.

The group’s last release, 2007’s Slaughter & Apparatus: A Methodical Overture, was by far the most experimental release to date. Although it was their heaviest sounding release to date, it also represented the biggest shift in direction from their previous releases, with the melodic aspect of the song writing standing out more than ever before.

Picking up from where they last left off, Aborted, who now have an official full band line up, with vocalist Sven De Caluwé and guitarist/vocalist Sebastien Tuvi now being joined by former Leng Tch’e guitarist Peter Goemaere, bassist Sven Janssens and drummer Dan Wilding have once again tried something new on their sixth full-length release Strychnine.213

After the intense blasting/sound effect enhanced introductory track “Carrion,” Aborted unleash themselves on “Ophiolatry On A Hemocite Platter.” Lyrically, Aborted remain true to their gore based subject matter (the song is based on Jeffrey Dahmer). But musically, quite a bit has changed. Despite boasting a heavy and aggressive sound (especially on the vocal and drum front), “Ophiolatry On A Hemocite Platter” showcases a more melodic and thought-out sound than anything Aborted have dared to commit to tape before. While it’s quite different from the Aborted of several years ago, the song somehow highlights the dynamics of the group’s sound, without compromising their aggressive death metal template of late.

Although coming across as heavier, “I35” is given a little more melody with some huge sweeping melodic guitar solos, while tracks such as “Pestiferous Subterfuge,” “A Murmur In Decrepit Wits” (which features a rather disturbing sample from Charles Manson), “Hereditary Bane,” “Avarice Of Vilification” and “The Obfuscate” are perfect examples of where the band marry their newfound melodic sound with their unrelenting brutality of the past.

Of course, the album does contain a couple of skull crushing efforts, notably “The Chyme Congeries” and “Enterrement Of An Idol,” but overall, this is Aborted’s most accessible release to date.

Fans of Slaughter & Apparatus: A Methodical Overture will view Strychnine.213 as the next logical step in Aborted’s constantly evolving sound. Others however may struggle to accept Aborted’s transition from goregrind to a straight forward melodic death metal sound.

www.myspace.com/abortedmetal