UMUR
"After Winter Comes War" is a demo recording by Norwegian death metal act Abhorration. The demo was released through Invictus Productions in November 2021. Abhorration formed in 2020 and this is their first release. The demo was originally released in only 50 cassette tape copies which the same four tracks featured on both sides. None of the four tracks would survive and be re-recorded for Abhorration´s debut full-length studio album "Demonolatry" (released in September 2024).
Stylistically this is slightly more thrash infused old school death metal then the more death metal dominated debut album. Morbid Angel is arguably an influence here, just as they are on the debut album, but to my ears the savage and raw thrash metal elements are just heard more on this demo. Lead vocalist/guitarist Magnus Garathun has a caustic snarling vocal style and again the arrow points towards the most raw end of the thrash metal spectrum rather than to death metal. So death/thrash metal is probably the most correct desription of "After Winter Comes War".
No matter what labels are put on the music this is highly effective, aggressive, and relentlessly energetic music, performed by a skilled unit of musicians. The songwriting is strong too and the tracks feature many old school thrash and death metal riffs and rhythms, morbid sounding leads and themes, occult lyrics and imagery, and everything else fans of the genre appreciate. Considering that "After Winter Comes War" is a demo release, it features a very well sounding production job. It´s suitably raw and brutal, but still clear enough for all details to be heard in the mix. A perfect sound production for this type of music. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
