The method of meeting this band was simple: buying a zine (Tribal Convictions 17), reading an interview and enthusiastic review, writing a message, getting a copy of tape. That's how the underground works. And I am lucky a bit as this version is now sold out, but I tell you, Life After Death label did a really good job, all looks and sounds perfect, as they promised in their motto: resurrecting dead formats. Anyway, let's write something on the first title of Abominated: cover art resembling the ancient demos and Vader-stylized logo – nobody can be wrong, the band is a time machine and with very first sounds of „Blasphemous Convocation” it catapults me into the cusp of the eighties and nineties. The Swedish scene is the key here, especially Nihilist halcyon days, the classical HM-2 buzz saw guitars dominate (however the sounding effect not maintained on maximum level), yet some influences from the American scene („Scream Bloody Gore”) are perceptible too.
Clocking in almost ten minutes, there are three short tracks preceded by an intro, no surprise... And to put it briefly there's no any eye-opener, but even if the structures are somehow predictable, the whole keeps me listening all the time. It's been served in fast frantic paces mostly without guitar leads and only first thirst-six seconds of the last „Merciless Aggression” become a rest for the drummer. But „Stench of Life” is a real highlight in this decomposed menu due to its catchy riffs – it should be a great song for the crowd. It is worth to mention Greg's vocals as well, he uses several methods and it sounds really interesting. Yes, I know this is only the beginning of Abominated rotting way through the bowels of the underground, yet I'm able to smell a potential here. And hope to hear new stuff soon: they have splendid patterns.
75/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written in July, 2021)
