Abjection - Malignant Deviation

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After a Canadian Metal uprising during the the 80’s, when ANVIL, EXCITER, VOIVOD, SACRIFICE, HELIX, KICK AXE, ANNIHILATOR and some others ravage the world with their music, things became calm there. And although some punctual names appeared and earned some commercial praise into underground scene, as KATAKLYSM, CRYPTOPSY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, things were never meant to be the same again. But even this way, some promising names still are coming from Canada, as the quartet ABJECTION, as their first release, “Malignant Deviation”, states.

Their musical work can be said as a form of Blackened Death Metal that has musical structures similar to names from the 80’s and 90’s, as POSSESSED, DEATH and even from old works from GOD DETHRONED and early Black/Death Metal works of BEHEMOTH. It’s not a sin to say that they’re into an Old School Blackened Death Metal way, but without denying some modern aspects. It’s brutal and crude, full of energy and aggressive, with some good contrasts. They can evolve a bit more, but are good in such way. Otso Ukkonen is the name of the guy who worked with the mixing and mastering. It’s a good work, keeping the crude and nasty approach of the past, but in a way that is good to understand what the quartet is doing. Maybe a better set of instrumental tunes and a cleaner sound can do miracles on their next release, but it’s good for now.

“An Illusion of Sleep” is a massive and furious attack of fast guitar riffs and grunts, the oppressive approach used on the tempos of “The Black Stag” (some traditional Death Metal elements can be heard clearly on bass guitar and drums) and “Nightmares Awoken” (and some sick melodies can be hard on this one), “The Madness Within” has some nasty and darkened ambiences created by the guitars and the grunts are fine, and “Darkness Unatterable” show very good contrasts. So as a first release, this EP is a fine piece, indeed. ABJECTION can sharpen its songs in a better way in the future, along with a better sonority. But for now, “Malignant Deviation” shows potential of a band that can become a pillar in the Canadian extreme scene.

Songwriting: 9
Musicianship: 8
Memorability: 8
Production: 6