Rating: 9.1

Country: Australia

Release Date: 1996

Record Label: Thrust Records/Repulse

Track list:
1. Misfortune
2. Grave Ideals (Nekromaniak)
3. Spiritual Justice
4. Humble Abode
5. Stargazer (The Summoning)
6. Stargazing (Stargazer II)
7. Deprived Of Afterlife
8. Invocation
9. Cantara (Dead Can Dance cover)

Total playing time 42:09

Band Website: -

Abramelin (Aus) - Abramelin

Tim Aldridge - Guitar, Bass
Simon Dower - Vocals
Euan Heriot - Drums

Let's face it, folks, the mid-90's was not a good time for death metal. Many of the stalwarts of the early Floridian and Scandinavian scenes were either dropping off the map or fading into irrelevance after making feeble attempts to reinvent themselves. And there were not a whole helluva lot of new bands emerging that were offering anything particularly exciting. However, the handful of newcomers that did prove to be of interest were truly special bands, and although they may not receive a great deal of fanfare, Australia's Abramelin was among these.

Abramelin's first full-length album under that name (they'd originally been called Acheron) is a gem of utter brutality - death metal the way it was meant to be played. This album combines the utter ferocity and melodic sensibility of early Dismember with the morbid, yet classy lead guitar work of Carcass' Necroticism and the speed of Vader, but not without adding their own very distinctive sense of unpredictability (not just in the layout of the songs, but also in the unexpected but oddly fitting cover of Dead Can Dance's "Cantara" as the album's closer.)

Guitarist Tim Aldridge is the driving force behind the band. His riffing is like musical barbed wire. Flesh-rippingly sharp and honed to a fine point, yet not without subtlety and a very keen sense of melody. Listen to the song "Spiritual Justice" to see what I mean... it sounds so incredibly fluid and natural, but it feels like perchloric acid going down the esophagus. The brooding, Autopsy-esque arpeggiated breakdown in that song is complete sonic torture. This is just one of the many examples of Aldridge's quirky brilliance on this album. The two-part necrophilia epic "Stargazer" is over ten minutes of complete grinding carnage, intermitted by a very tasteful, moody classical guitar piece that, much like the Dead Can Dance cover, somehow makes perfect sense in that context..

The brilliant, caustic guitar work is complemented by a very solid rhythmic foundation built by Euan Heriot's (yes, the same Euan Heriot who played for Blood Duster) flawless and dynamic drumming, which does not seem to be at all triggered (a welcome change from most current death metal skinswork). Unfortunately, Heriot was replaced soon after this album was recorded and when the time came to record their second LP, Deadspeak (2000), Abramelin found themselves without a live drummer and had to resort to using a machine... a real shame.

Simon Dower's vocals are also noteworthy in that they are utterly demonic and guttural, without sounding the least bit processed. This, too, is a welcome change from most latterday death metal bands, whose vocals tend to sound blatantly pitchshifted and completely lacking in texture (not to mention, very inspid in terms of enunciation patterns). With Dower, even though he's roaring like a possessed rottweiler, you can still tell that he's still actually saying something, rather than just belching out syllable after syllable of "BUUUUURUUUUUUGH... RUUUUUUUGHRRUUUUUUUUU... UUUUUUUUUURGH".

Bottom line - Abramelin is an oft-overlooked gem of original and violent death metal that should be sought out by every real fan of the genre. The original Thrust Records release of this album is especially valuable, since it was banned in the band's native Australia on account of the gory lyrics, replete with graphic images of serial murder, pedophilia, hellish torment and all that other good stuff that makes life worth living. The band responded to the banning with a good deal of wit, putting a "we endorse death metal, not serial murder" disclaimer in the Repulse reissue. Then they went ahead and pulled a Dismember, writing even more twisted lyrics for Deadspeak. Anyway, get this or the wraith minions of Sakkath shall make your crotch itch for all eternity.

August 3rd, 2007