Abaddon Incarnate - Nadir (Sentinel)

Pure fucking holocaust! If Immortal ever had a monopoly over that phrase, then this band is sure to become a serious contender. Ireland’s Abaddon Incarnate take their ultra-heavy cues from such death/grindcore luminaries as Brutal Truth and early Napalm Death, meld it with the rough-n-ready psychotic blurs of power violence from the extreme end of the hardcore spectrum and deliver a violently filthy recording in the shape of Nadir. While the term “a face only a mother could love” has never applied so readily, this is without a doubt a standout of the genre.

Incapacitating full-throttle speed is what you’d expect, and Abaddon don’t fail to deliver. ‘I Will Nail You In’, ‘Victory or Annihilation’ and basically every other track is a scathing blast furnace of ballistic speed and supercharged vehemence. Occasionally a slight reference to Cryptopsy or even Sadistik Exekution can be made, minus a little of the insanity that fuels those particular acts. The pace is occasionally tempered by slower lumbering and supremely heavy passages, exhibiting more of their death metal background. ‘Progeny’ and ‘Seditious Thoughts Part 2’ are prime examples. In between the two extremes Abaddon utilise a massive mid-paced headbanging groove such as the start of ‘Unclean’ that would be sure to turn any normal live crowd into a schizophrenic and pulsating mass. Hell, there are even tiny injections of melody in ‘Come Onto Me’ and ‘She Hates With A Marble Heart’ with their short lead breaks which keep the album from becoming too monotonous, which undoubtedly some people will claim. A thoroughly raw production job (if there was even one to start with) may enhance the savagery of the music, but it also eradicates the subtle nuances that differentiate one track from another.

Being comprised of 24 different sub-two-minute thrashings, which, if you’re not paying close enough attention, essentially all sound the same, means that Nadir will more than likely leave you bewildered as to what exactly took place where. I resorted to taking notes on which song was which just to write this review, even after roughly a dozen listens. Even still, if the aural equivalent of having the side of your head dragged against sharp concrete is appealing – and, let’s face it, that’s every extreme metal fan – then Abaddon Incarnate would definitely be worth investigating, just for the pure scorching cacophony they call Nadir.

Score- 7.5/10

http://www.abaddonincarnate.8m.com

By: Kev Truong