The technical death metal scene of today often sacrifices melody and songwriting for showcasing technical skill. While the kids at Guitar Center may line up to test out the latest Between the Buried and Me and The Faceless solos on a $300 guitar, it all lacks a bit of soul, a bit of punch, as it were. Farting for fart's sake doesn't amount to much, there has to be passion. Sound matters not if there's no pungent stench. Enter the world of Russia's Hieronymus Bosch. While lacking the spastic jazziness of Atheist or the dissonant pastiches of Gorguts,
The Human Abstract is a perfect example of how technical, bass-driven, experimental death metal can still be rooted in good riffs and solid songwriting. You can be a headbanging dummy and get down to the powerful riffs, or you can be a studious muso who picks apart what these boys are laying down.
Much like the painter of the same name,
The Human Abstract combines the abstract with the soul, and comes up with a thrilling release that ebbs and flows like a crazy river. There's even a blues song here, a tribute to the black bluesmen of the 30s, a sphere of musical influence often neglected by death metallers. Yet sure enough, there's plenty of crazy shredding and crazy bass to enthrall us all, those of us who aren't quite satisfied with Sanguisausagebong, some of us prefer steak to macaroni and cheese. Hieronymus Bosch gives a plate with both, a filling meal and there's even a bit of broccoli because every meal needs a green. Speaking of which, smoke some green and throw on this album! I think you'll like it.
