Year: 2019
Total Time: 40:06
Label: Self-Financed
ABAROTH is a four-membered band (keyboards in this release are assigned to Arillius instead of Slag) originating from Dartmouth, Massachusetts. They have been around since 2002, having released a demo (2005) and their debut LP in 2009. After a ten-year period of extended hibernation and only two spasmodic track releases in Bandcamp, they reappear this year with their second (self-financed) full release “Emissary of the Void”.
They perform their kind of atmospheric Black Metal sharing similarities to NECHOCHWEN and ALDA as they also embrace themes of the occult, nature and specifically New England mythology. They do not emphasize in the dark folk element as the pre-mentioned bands but utilize their epic guitar melodies and subtle keys to highlight their pagan texture. Mid-tempo rhythms are mostly prevalent and there is a cyclic repeatedness aiming to increase tension, but most tracks drag unnecessarily without achieving the desired heights. After the good introductory “Of Light and Flame”, clear standouts are the solid “Midnight’s Hymn” ,with its BATHORY-like drums and fantastic epic conclusion, and the dense “At the Throne of Faumiel” with its up-tempo more menacing rhythm, its ritualistic lead guitar and Kabbalistic references (as it is discreetly portrayed in their bat-woven band logo).These two tracks encapsulate the best ideas of the Americans and constitute a clearer and more targeted sample of their compositional vision. I would also like to point out that, besides the black metal shrieks of Xammael and the “expected” epic choral chanting, we can hear some exceptional demonic voiced recitation reminding of invocations of ancient dark spirits which could elevate the mystical aura if it wasn’t “buried” in the lo-fi production.
ABAROTH managed after a long ten-year period to present with “Emissary of the Void” an entertaining “dive” in the mythology of New England without achieving the innerness they so much crave. If their best and most interesting ideas navigate them through the future, then I am certain they will be able to offer us a more focused and qualitative in its entirety release.
Rating: 6/10
Editor: George Kolivanos
Related Link: ABAROTH – Facebook Page
