E.P. Review: Abysmal Dawn – Nightmare Frontier
Reviewed by Sam Jones
Abysmal Dawn are one of those names in death metal that I feel are criminally underrated, these guys have been at this now for almost twenty years having formed way back in 2003, out of California, United States. The band released their first Demo in 2004 however their first album wouldn’t drop until 2006 titled From Ashes, from there the band kept up this nicely consistent train of releases right up until 2014’s Obsolescence where the band would see their biggest gap yet between studio releases: a full six years. Then comes around at last 2020 and their fifth studio album titled Phylogenesis, one that I never got round to listening to around its release date. Now another two years on, we have what is amazingly their first ever EP release: Nightmare Frontier. The moment I saw this EP title I was hooked, I knew I had to see what this was about. Finally, after so long I am really giving Abysmal Dawn their due so let’s see what horrors the band have in store for us and in their first EP release no less.
So first things first we need to acknowledge the Bloodborne influence on this record. I love how so many bands, such as Tomb Mold, have been open with the impact that Dark Souls and Bloodborne have had on popular culture and Abysmal Dawn are no different. Utilising the area of the Nightmare Frontier as their EP title as well as the opening song “A Nightmare Slain”, which fans of Bloodborne will recognise acutely, this EP, before any music gets underway, is a love letter to FromSoftware and their take on Cosmic Horror. It’s an expression that various aspects of popular culture, when profound enough, can sometimes transcend their original mediums and find themselves taken on by formats of entertainment they were never envisioned to assume. If you’re going to do Cosmic Horror and really put the emphasis on what it manages to evoke, then you can’t apply it to anything more fitting than death metal; for that Abysmal Dawn find themselves copiously well qualified to deliver on.
But on to the actual music. I’ve always found it curious how Abysmal Dawn have always stuck to their guns by providing riffs that are actually thinner than many of their contemporaries. That’s not to say the band’s songwriting doesn’t kick ass or provide the impact you’d expect them to hit with, the band do in fact hit you with quite a visceral and menacing presence. The atmosphere Abysmal Dawn are renowned for offering: an empowering yet scathing sonic assault, is precisely what they continue to deliver on here. While the guitar tone is a little thinner than other bands may go with, their impact is still plentiful to give you the power you’re seeking. Solos and licks are deliciously swift and clean, the mixes that the band manage to evoke throughout their proceeding releases throughout the years have been extraordinary. Anyone who may think their guitar work sounds tinny may be directed towards the back end of “A Nightmare Slain”, where one will find themselves propelled at thundering velocity into the band’s path: it’s the equivalent of being shot out of a cannon and into an oncoming, high-speed eighteen wheeler. From this sense we can say Abysmal Dawn know how to regulate power, they don’t just throw all their gusto out at us in one burst. While their songwriting is geared towards death metal naturally, the way they approach songwriting is extremely meticulous. It’s very well written but also really well paced, the band never allow the music to outpace us; we’re forever on the same wavelength as the band which bodes well for us as we’ll never feel like we need to catch up with them.
I’ve often considered Abysmal Dawn to possess some pretty gnarly and bold drums. In some respects, depending on what release by the band you’re listening to, the drums have more presence and power than the initial riffs. Blast beats and monstrous double bass drumming is part of the course for what kind of music the band play yet it’s never relentless power for its own sake. If you choose to listen closely to the flows and meanderings the drums take throughout the course of just a single track, you may be surprised to hear just many changes and alterations the drums take. You’ll have blast beats then a more intricate section, then furious bass drumming before something stripped down and effective thanks to the emboldened mix that’s been provided before the drums come at you with a collective and realised assault that brings them to the forefront of the band’s attack. Abysmal Dawn are death metal through and through, and they’re not going to stray from their course all that much, but that doesn’t mean they’re aloof with their songwriting. They really take time to map out what their segments will bring and none will raise eyebrows more in this respect here than the drums.
Other than the drums I can also raise awareness to what the vocals manage to imbue here. Abysmal Dawn are a rare band who have no singular strong section of their makeup, every aspect from riffs to bass to drums and especially vocals are equally amongst the greatest things they can deliver. So hearing them all come together in this apocalyptic synergy is staggering, but the vocals definitely possess a might that other death metal acts fall short of. I wouldn’t say that it’s down to any more impressive performance, even while the vocals herein are very well handled, but it’s how in your face they feel. They don’t merely come across like they’re performing from a distance to you, but as if they’re being projected point blank range at you; they drag you into the madness where there’s no escape. With vocals like these there is no safe place or safe harbour from where you can find your comfort again. Abysmal Dawn give you the only choice to reach the end; immerse yourself or leave: there’s no middle ground for them here. I’ve certainly encountered more brutal and merciless vocal techniques before but few get my vitriol pumping as much as Abysmal Dawn’s vocals manage.
In conclusion, for myself this EP serves as a reminder for why I really need to give this band a serious go. Throughout this EP’s duration I felt myself falling more and more for Abysmal Dawn and it’s something I haven’t experienced in a while, where you can recognise a growing love for a band the more you listen to them. Ending out the EP with a cover of Candlemass’ legendary track “Bewitched”, we receive a fresh look on what else the band can give us from time to time demonstrating exquisitely refined vocals, thick and lingering guitar tones and well controlled pacing that gives us an idea of how they can approach lengthier tracks. Overall this was a great EP and in spite of its blistering intensity, it retains a striking replayability. Somewhere in the future you’ll be listening to this EP again and pick up on something you missed the first time round. It’s a skin-shredding yet addictive roar to be had. Most recommended.
