Stardate 11/28/2024 08:34 

This is what a melodic death album should sound like. With precision in the songwriting, a solid production quality, insane vocals, and uncompromising way of each composition. The songs are chaotic, but well played out guitar/drum-wise. Each instrument was mixed with exactitude. I really enjoyed this album over their latest because everything on the production fit in. The melodies were catchy and uncompromising. The leads are superb and done immaculately. There's no letting up on the intensity of this album. It's in your face melodic death. The vocals taking right form both in low and screaming tones. The latter more so.

It seemed as though the music followed the vocals pretty well. Each song has their own creativity and ingenuity. I think that this band definitely conquered in the creativity factor. This album is heavy, innovative, mixed with top skill and the musicians on here showed that could put out an album that's no holds barred. I admired the fact that they have different tempos but mostly it's fast, just not all the time. There are instances where there's slower tempos but not many. They seem to be really heavy and fueled with fire on here. It's the type of album where you can hear variety in the music as well as the musicianship is phenomenal.

I need to get this CD because it's something that I won't get sick of and the quality of the album is top notch. They seem to be on their game here. They know what the term "diversity" means. Everything is just fast. Some songs there's no lyrics (instrumental) and others hit right back at ya in your face with heavy guitars and screaming vocals. They even execute blast beating in some instances. They're just toying around with their sound and how fast the guitars are going. If full throttle, intense leads and rhythms. You don't really know what to expect from these guys. They're changing it up ALL THE TIME.

I admit that I chek this out on Spotify to see if I liked it first. Then I played it and was taken aback by it. Such an amazing execution for an album in the melodic death arena. They play fast though. Bands like Arch Enemy, Thousand Year War, old In Flames, etc. never played this fast and intense, ever! They do fit the category, but they're just more intense than most melodic death bands. Those were just a few examples. Do yourself a favor and download this. If it's to your liking, buy the physical CD. Support the band don't just rely only on digital downloads get a boom box! These guys rip! Own their album, now!

Rating: 10 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Death8699
02/25/2019 20:51

Related websites:
The official The Black Dahlia Murder website :: www.tbdmofficial.com
Metal Blade Records website :: www.metalblade.com

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The Black Dahlia Murder
(USA)

album cover
Abysmal
1. Receipt (04:02)
2. Vlad, Son of the Dragon (02:57)
3. Abysmal (03:42)
4. Re-Faced (50:00)
5. Threat Level nº 3 (03:46)
6. The Fog (03:50)
7. Stygiophobic (03:14)
8. Asylum (03:39)
9. The Advent (03:42)
10. That Cannot Die Which Eternally Is Dead (04:30)
11. We Dead Are Best Left Underground * (02:59)
12. Hellion * (01:05)
13. Der Ton * (01:19)
= 01:28:45
Metal Blade Records 2015

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honorary mention