JOHANSSON & SPECKMANN — Edge of the Abyss (review)

JOHANSSON & SPECKMANN — Edge of the Abyss album cover Album · 2016 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Edge of the Abyss" is the 3rd full-length studio album by multi-national death metal act Johansson & Speckmann. The album was released through Soulseller Records in September 2016. It´s the successor to "Mask of the Treacherous" from 2015 and still features the trio lineup of Rogga Johansson (guitars, bass), Paul Speckmann (vocals) and Brynjar Helgetun (drums). Especially the two former mentioned are quite prolific names on the scene. Rogga Johansson for his work with among others Demiurg, Paganizer, Ribspreader, The Grotesquery and Bone Gnawer and Paul Speckmann for his work with Death Strike, Abomination and especially Master.

Stylistically the material on "Edge of the Abyss" is a continuation of the relatively simple old school death metal style of the two predecessors. Death metal riffs (heavy and tremolo), heavy brutal drumming, and Speckmann´s slurred distinct sounding growling in front. The latter may be a distinct sounding growler, but his performance is pretty one-dimensional and not particularly strong. His words are slurred and sluggish and sometimes I´m in doubt if he has adopted the language of his new country (Czechia) and sings in that language rather than in English. The negatives out of the way, the music is overall decent enough and I especially enjoy the well played guitar solos featured on the album, which are courtesy of Rogga Johansson-projects regular Kjetil Lynghaug.

"Edge of the Abyss" features a relatively well sounding production job, and it´s an entertaining enough release if you can appreciate Speckmann´s vocals. It´s not exactly a revolution nor is it the most interesting release the two mainmen have been involved in, but a 3 star (60%) rating is still warranted.
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