Genre: Death metal
Origin: Sweden
Released: 2010
Website: Abscession
Label: Suffer Productions
Uploaded: 16.02.10

Abscession is a new constellation dedicated to the Swedish sound of death metal from back in the days. I have absolutely no problem with old school, in fact it can kick some major ass, but to be perfectly honest there are tons of acts doing the exact same thing, drawing influence from the same bands and winding up sounding like boring copy cats. Unfortunately I feel that’s the case too often nowadays, so I’m really bloody glad when a band comes along and knocks me off my feet. Death incarnate is not just another run-of-the-mill demo, but one that actually has a genuine sense of talent and melody so often lacking. I’ve listened through these three tracks many times now, and I mean many… There are a couple of minor things I’ve discovered, through sheer listening repetition, that I might not be completely content with, but other than that I have to say it kicks ass.
Haunted from within is a slower tune, and it’s a great track with powerful vocals sounding harsh and almost spat out in a rage. But about a minute or so into the song something happens, and a marvelous guitar line shreds the air as the tempo kicks in a higher gear and the vocals shriek out “why won’t they let me die”… and I’m loving every second of it. Suddenly they take it up a notch and go from great to bloody fantastic. But nevertheless my favourite tune here is what comes next. Yesterday I was out shopping, and suddenly I found myself going around humming, and quite loudly too. And I realized a melodic guitar line had firmly embedded itself in my mind, and it was that of Litany of the serpent god. I couldn’t help it, I just couldn’t get it out of my mind and I had to hum loudly. It is a strong and powerful line on top of a bed of heavy, churning and very groove-laden riffing and drumming. And I’m just loving it.
Vocally there’s not a whole lot to say since it’s pretty classic Swedish death metal growls, just as the music is that of the classic Swedish recipe. But as I said Abscession stands out from the crowd; they have that extra little something to really make it interesting. The guitar lines are wicked, the groove and tempo terrific and the production is flawless for a demo. But nevertheless I find the drum beat during the verses of Land of the damned to be a little bland, and during the same song there’s a vocal line I find out of place. It’s a good song, no doubt about it; it has a great intro, strong riffing and whatnot, but still the weakest of the bunch. But as they’ve apparently changed drummer I’ve been promised that future escapades of the lads will have more technicality to it. Nevertheless these three tracks show a young band really on to something, and it’s without a doubt the best old school demo I’ve heard in a long time.

Tracklist:
01. Land of the damned
02. Haunted from within
03. Litany of the serpent god