Considering my unhealthy obsession with all things Chris Reifert related (From Death and Autopsy, to Abscess and The Ravenous, and everything in between.), I’m not quite sure how Static Abyss slipped under my radar. The new collaboration between Reifert and fellow Autopsy miscreant Greg Wilkinson first made waves last year with their debut album, Labyrinth of Veins: A roughly 40 minute display of death/doom at its most primal. In true old school fashion, they’ve struck while the iron is hot, returning just a year later with their latest full length, Aborted from Reality.
Now considering Static Abyss is essentially half of Autopsy, you’re probably wondering, “Is this band merely Autopsy 2: Electric Boogaloo?” Yes…and no. Whereas recent Autopsy albums have channeled the unique death/doom/punk amalgamation of their classic output, Static Abyss doubles down on the doom side of the spectrum circa Mental Funeral. There’s also no shortage of unusual, pseudo-psychedelic passages that are nowhere to be found on any Autopsy releases, as well as a healthy dose of thrashing aggression, straight out of the 80s tape trading underground.
Aborted from Reality comes rushing out of the gates with its opening title cut; a putrid offering of old school death, riddled with d-beats, punky riffs, and abysmal doom. It sets the tone for the remainder of this outing, which is absolutely anything BUT cheerful. Cuts like “Wormskinned” and “Cerebral Ghost” embody death/doom at its earliest, with their murky riffage and overall sense of despair, while the Trouble-esque dirges “Cerebral Ghost” and “The Static Abyss” push us to the outer reaches of sanity in their painfully slow delivery. If you’re looking for the atmospheric, grandiose death/doom associated with the early 90s UK scene, look elsewhere.
The unpredictable curveballs that are the hypnotic “Mind Tentacles” and ferocious “Horizon of Cremains” only further churn this metallic cauldron to the point of overflow, scrambling the listener’s brains (or what’s left of them) with sadistic pleasure. And then we’ve got songs such as “Poisoned Limbs”, “Horizon of Cremains”, and “Crosses and Coffins” that sonically lie somewhere between Severed Survival era Autopsy and Abscess. Would you believe me if I said there were some mosh friendly breakdowns scattered about? No? Double knot your high tops and prepare to be proven wrong. This bad boy throws down like a forgotten New Renaissance Records release circa ’87.
For an offshoot/studio project band, Static Abyss sure brings it on home and then some. By no means is this an album of Autopsy leftovers, but rather a bountiful feast of meat and potatoes death that could’ve fit anywhere on their last album, Morbidity Triumphant. Reifert continues to drum and growl with the same gore-soaked intensity as he did 35 years ago. Wilkinson compliments him adequately, laying down riffs on both the guitar and bass that sound straight out of the bowels of hell. Put them together and you’ve got 2 deranged dudes hellbent on making the sickest metal this side of the universe. If that doesn’t warm your blackened, shriveled up heart, I don’t know what will.
7 out of 10
Label: Peaceville Records
Genre: Death/Doom Metal
For fans of: Autopsy, Abscess, Asphyx