Review - Abhorer - Unholy Blasphemer album artwork

Rating: 9.5

Country: Singapore

Release Date: 2005

Track list:
1. Invoking Rana Sahib, Satyrical Goat Of Mendes
2. Concubinal Celibatic Myrmidonian Whores
3. Abandonment Of Chastity
4. Hymeneal Altar Of Messianic Salacitation
5. Phlegethonic Sybantical Demimonde
6. Dom Abbadoniel Abysstic Demonolatry
7. Zygotical Sabbatory Unabapt
8. Expiation Of Serpahic Patriarch
9. Saith…Empyrean Sabaoth Of Azarak
10. Abandonment Of Chastity
11. Heathendom Incarnate
12. Intro: Revivification
13. Repudiated Faith
14. Rumpus Of The Undead
15. Diabolic Epitaph
16. Profaned Immolation

Band Website: Abhorer

Abhorer - Unholy Blasphemer

Crucifer - Vocals
Dagoth - Drums
Exorcist - Guitar
Imprecator- Bass

I'm not entirely sure how I should preface this review, as the mere mention of this band's name arouses very fond, affectionate memories of my heavy metal infancy. I did, after all, spend my metal formative years in the band's native Singapore, and the rich lore/legendry surrounding this trailblazing Geylang troupe were not lost on me as I was taking my first awkward steps through the ghoul-haunted catacombs of extreme metal. Any South East Asian metalhead with any sort of sense will testify to Abhorer's indelible influence- along with As Sahar and Malaysia's Sil Khannaz, they laid the foundational premise upon which the likes of Impiety, Vociferation Eternity and Langsuyr have built upon. The reputation the band enjoys in exotic locales, however, does not predicate their musical quality, and I can, with all fervency, assure you that Abhorer's legacy is not diminished when placed against any of their contemporaries, and that the sheer impact of these recordings have not dimmed with the passage of time. I can assuredly say that Rumpus Of The Undead occupies the uppermost echelon of extreme metal demos (top 10, at least), and while somewhat weaker (and considerably different in style), Unholy Blasphemer can confidently hold its own against any of its like-minded post- Altars Of Madness kin.

I've observed a burgeoning tendency to associate Abhorer with the “war metal” phenomenon that also involves the likes of Procreation, Blasphemy, Beherit, Reencarnacion and Sarcofago, and while the sheer violence of Abhorer's embryonic material suggests a barbarity not far removed from such rowdy company, in truth Rumpus Of The Undead traces a lineage that is directly attributable to Seven Churches, Kill For Pleasure and the Mantas/Death/Massacre demos. A pervasively dark, unnervingly sinister atmosphere permeates throughout, which, along with the reckless abandon exhibited with some of the gung-ho leads/audacious snare-first percussion, justifies some of the prevalent Sarcofago comparisons, and the demo would assuredly appeal to devotees at the altar of Bestial Devastation, Bloody Vengeance, Sacro, Genocidio and Under The Sign Of The Black Mark . Yet, there is a distinctively riff-driven approach to the proceedings here that comes across like Chuck Schuldiner projecting the spirit of Mille Petrozza, and the youthful abandon lends a spontaneity to the demo that is near unparalleled. Unfettered and unblemished by whims like restraint or subtlety, I can wholeheartedly state that this will satiate any first-wave enthusiasts.

Leap forward 4 years, and the bounds Abhorer have made in terms of instrumental proficiency and approach is nothing less than revelatory- plenty of frenzied, bloodstained Amon/Deicide-esque riffing (expressed through a positively MURDEROUS guitar tone), coupled with white-knuckled, relentless casket-pounding and Crucifer's characteristically impassioned, strikingly desperate vocals. Another three years would have even more marked effects on Abhorer's evolution, as the Zygotical Sabbatory Unabapt LP (their solitary full-length outing), would see the band exuding a rather overt post-Azagthoth influence, cloaked in impenetrably esoteric (and, quite earnestly, ludicrous) lyrics. Yet, for its linear post- Altars moves, the continuity that exists between Rumpus and Zygotical is preserved in the record's INTENSELY demonic, occult atmosphere- this entire record is so steeped in acridity, yet so thoroughly absorbing/enveloping in its expansive, overarching aura, it does absolutely NO SHAME to its aesthetic forebear. While one may lament the woeful fact that Abhorer would never issue another official recording following this release, gratification can be derived from the fact that they knew when to pull the plug- given the dramatic changes time inflicted upon this outfit, it is hard to conceive of them releasing consistently nightmarish material over a protracted period.

Rejoice, then, that Sammael has prompted Xtreem to issue this outstanding eulogy to one of occult metal's most overlooked outfits, revivifying these obscure, out-of-print recordings for new generations to devour. Abhorer have occupied a permanent place in my playlists throughout the past 9 years, and their ubiquity in all discussions of Asian metal is well-deserved. Now, you owe it to yourself to (re)discover them.

July 29th, 2007