Abominant hail from Kentucky and 'Upon Black Horizons' is their fifth full length album in 6 years. This album introduces me to the band, and I haven't heard anything else from them but a few different songs on their MySpace.com site (on top, all of 'em newer stuff than this platter). Considering that this is Abominant's 5th full lengther in 6 years, they could already be well-known, but really aren't, are they? Surely, the name felt kind of familiar, but then again, I'm not going to waste more time thinking how many "abomination" derivatives there are doing rounds on the metal bands circuit.

Beginning with a sample from movie "The Omen", the band explodes into pretty chaotic death/thrash/black metal hybrid. Tremolo picking, blast beats, throat-lacerating vocals and heavy metal melodies are what awaits a listener. Swedish black and death metal must be one of the band's big influences, making them sound like they would come from Central Europe. Abominant sound pretty faceless, to tell the truth, but that's an universal problem. Maybe that's why they aren't more well-known. However, they aren't a plain copy of any band, either. Abominant have created some memorable moments here, some very ripping indeed, some more melodic, some attacking, some more melancholic. With all the familiar touches, Abominant still succeeded in making an album that pleases me, at times a lot. 'Through the Primordial Void' simply ripped me a new arsehole, no less! And some other damn well tried, they tried... I can't resist good riffs found all over the album. Nuclear Assault cover 'Fight to Be Free' is a good one, being quite similar to the original, just the vocals are different and Abominant aren't that tight. But you won't find similar stuff elsewhere on this album. Talking about Abominant material; it is good that the album is as short as it is. I mean they could've gone longer, but just making it more and more repeating. It's not that this is repeating now, no, there's some diverse bits heard every now and then.

The band's performance is good enough. Nothing stellar, but manic drumming, rumbling bass and great harmonic twin guitaring make my horns rise. Vocals are a double-edged sword; I don't like that bloody uptight shrieking, but beary growls, them I can handle. Guitar solos, some of them are great and able, some sound like they're out of tune. The production job ain't polished, but suitably edged and heavy. Cover and booklet design look lame, but what the fuck is that beast on the CD?! The horror/mystic lyrics are okay in all their stereotypic style, but please, forget that self-pitying "in this hollow shell, a life of shit" type stuff..!

'Upon Black Horizons' can cure double-dyed hunger for metal. I was going to dump this album because it offered nought novelty, but fuck that, it still rocks! Check out the songs on the band's MySpace.com site and if you enjoy 'em, you'll utterly enjoy this platter as well.

Rating: 8- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
08/30/2008 17:52