Review Summary: Where did Aborted go?
Aborted, formed in 1995, could easily succumb into the many generic death metal albums that exist today. As a whole, they still subtly manage to keep my interest, despite utilizing all the regular components that can be distinguished among its correlatives. All signs connotate a thematic approach to gore and death, but what may not be implicitly palpable is the way in which they exaggerate it in order to satirize the brutality of killing. Hailing from Belgium, this band has something to offer, had. After a scrutiny in their newer album “The Archaic Abattoir”, I disappointedly watch the fire that the band had kindled so intently during their previous work die out. There are still elements from their previous materials which have prospered and remained unblemished.
That’s right, because the only thing that differs this from the what would be a bland and repetitive deathgrind album are the vocals. Sven de Caluwé is born ready. He has an immaculate control over his growl, and can alter its range while the steadfast core remains. With a great vocalist, the band already secured much of their position in becoming a great band. In reality, they have an excellent set-up on the whole. The guitars are cleanly played through and the drums, composed of cymbals and blast beats are as brittle and consistent as soaked snow. But what now, how do they bestow this potential?
In 2003 the answer would have been “Goremageddon”, arguably one of their most intense inspirations that put them at the meridian of their musical strives, which, I won’t lie, got to me incredibly quickly. There was something about the way the band played; it was like anything else, but there was something subtly instrumental which made them emanate a peculiarity, highly suggesting that they knew what they were doing, and doing it which set the ideal example. Up to date, Aborted has been a very technically proficient band, holding an alleged superiority and professionalism when it came to playing a refined Death Metal. It was what all bands were striving for, but which Aborted had emulated with such ease.
“The Archaic Abattoir” is something I will be completely frank about; this album had a lot of pressure on it, as it had to compete with some of Aborted’s best work up to date. The verdict: this stuff just doesn’t cut the mustard. Their work has slipped into the queue of death metal bands that are simply generic and derivative. De Caluwé has managed to keep his voice intact, but with it being completely enshrouded by useless guitars which give off no catchy grooves or melodic riffs, this albums comes off just over average. The vocals have withdrawn with the fatal instrumental accompaniment and lost their power, which intertwined very well with the more unrelenting riffs on their previous material. This 2006 release now features a slower and heavier, in effect, less dynamic line of tracks. Vocals now completely lack transition and sound very contrived, especially as there is a huge contrast between, singing voice 1 and 2 (well name them for now). Stop-and-start techniques are applied to catch the auditors interest, which shows the explosiveness that the band has, but which unfortunately here has no effect. The previously mentioned guitars and riffs are so heavy and slow, there is no effect now whether they slow down or come up, to me they are only progressing through the only too mellifluous transitions.
To obviate repetition, I will not reiterate too much upon their technical specifications. Songs like
The Gangrenous Epitaph and
Voracious Haemoglobinic Syndrome still protrude rays of hope, and its always good to know that there are tracks which are good. I’ve always liked how elements such as solos are added to add an even more blissful state to the songs, here there is proof of that too, only they are more dragged out; songs therefore cohere less.
However, we must still face facts, and acknowledge that there are bound to be bad tracks, unfortunately, a little too many, which makes my opinion of this album much lower. After all, it is the album that I am rating, and if the majority of it is great, it will stay sharply in my mind. I’ve been staying rather objective and commercial for too long, and this has been my opportunity to rebel. With their 2006 album “The Archaic Abattoir”, Aborted have failed to impress; they hardly play dynamic and inexorable riffs. This has been replaced by placid and down-tuned melodies which stiffly leave behind the pacy technical and contrasting lead guitars that we once knew. I welcome anyone to give this a listen and contest, as well as reinforce my opinions, but for those in search of the best, you will have to look elsewhere.
Recommended Tracks:
- The Gangrenous Epitaph
- Voracious Haemoglobinic Syndrome
- Descend To Extirpation
