ABSCESS — Horrorhammer (review)

ABSCESS — Horrorhammer album cover Album · 2007 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Horrorhammer" is the 5th full-length studio album by US death metal act Abscess. The album was released through Tyrant Syndicate Productions in March 2007. It´s the successor to "Damned and Mummified" from 2004. Five albums into their career and four albums more if you count some of the members time with Autopsy and the releases made by that band, Abscess still only experienced minor interest in their music. Autopsy are considered a seminal US death metal act, and it´s like that legacy dragged Abscess down, and they were never really allowed to be their own band. The comparisons to Autopsy are made in almost every review/interview I have ever read about Abscess (probably including some of my own). But the fault is primarily the band´s own, as they pretty much opted to continue the hardcore punk influenced death/doom metal style of the last Autopsy albums of the 90s. They gave that sound a little twist, but it was not enough to separate them from Autopsy in the heads of the music press and their fans.

It´s too bad really because the first couple of Abscess releases were of a decent quality and at least mildly entertaining, but the last couple of releases definitely didn´t help the band´s reputation, as they are relatively mediocre and forgettable (with a few exceptions with some standout tracks). Therefore it was nice surprise laying ears to the material and performances on "Horrorhammer", because this is Abscess when they are best.

Stylistically not much has changed and Abscess still play hardcore punk influenced death/doom metal with filthy horror/gore themed lyrics. So in that respect "Horrorhammer" is more of the same, and it´s in the songwriting department, but also in the sincerity and authenticity of the musical performances where the differences lie. The album also features better production choices than the last couple of releases (courtesy of Adam Muñoz, who interestingly enough was also involved in the production of the last couple of releases), and "Horrorhammer" is upon conclusion one of the standout releases in the band´s discography.

Opening with the chaotic, brutal, and raw "Drink the Filth" and continuing down that road throughout the 12 track, 34:46 minutes long album, Abscess sound passionate and convincing. They are just as successful playing hardcore punk oriented death metal tracks as they are delivering crushingly heavy death/doom parts. The organic nature of the performances is a great asset which provides the music with an authentic old school rawness and brutality, and lead vocalist/drummer Chris Reifert as always delivers a deranged and varied vocal performance. Aggressive shouting growling, gurgling juicy gore drenched growling, and all sorts of other extreme types of vocals. Reifert is not only a pioneer of the US death metal scene, he is also a unique sounding drummer and vocalist. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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