Review Summary: An unexpected change of pace.
Abiotic seem to be taking a page out of former deathcore superstars Job For A Cowboy with their sophomore release,
Casuistry. Job For A Cowboy’s roots as trailblazing deathcore peddlers gave way over the years until it all came to a head with 2014’s
Sun Eater. More technical and dynamic playing replaced the breakdowns of old, along with more interesting songwriting. Abiotic have the former traits down pat, but it’s the latter category where they start to fall behind.
Casuistry is a completely alien creation when compared to the album that came before. The band’s debut,
Symbiosis, was a dense, heavy, and blitzkrieg paced behemoth. The breakdowns were numerous, but at all times crushing, and the technicality was impressive compared to many of the band’s peers. Even the production jobs on each record seem like mirror opposites;
Symbiosis was thick, fairly raw (by deathcore standards), and full at all times, while
Casuistry is full of clean and thin tones on all the instruments. Granted, the clean production is a trademark for technical death metal, but that hasn’t stopped it from being a common cause for complaint amongst naysayers. The plastic sound has been known to suit certain outfits in the past, but here it feels more like a tacked on addition to make the band fit in. It’s sad to say that while Job For A Cowboy’s shift in style helped them to reach greater heights, Abiotic’s just holds them back.
If there is one feature Abiotic took from the aforementioned band that helps their case, it’s the increased focus on the bass playing. The clean production certainly helps it reach out of the mix, and it becomes apparent that it can hold its own against the hyper technical guitar playing. It’s just too bad it feels a little more like a novelty, than something that takes the album to the next level. Make no mistake, it certainly adds to the album, but not as much as it could. In terms of the songwriting,
Casuistry is too one note. The songs weave in a graceful enough fashion. The guitar work balances complex playing with simpler grooves to a degree and the songs flow well, but many of the tracks could use a truly surprising change up or softened section to make them stand out. Most tracks seem to sound a bit too samey, though it’s notable that the quality is consistent enough across the board. The vocals likewise do little to surprise despite the varied performance, but they generally become overshadowed by the instrumentals.
Casuistry stands as more of an interesting stepping stone than an actual step up for the band. It’s good to see the Abiotic change things up at as early a stage as their second album, and it gives cause to suspect that the band has the ambition to go a good ways further. Sadly, it doesn’t outdo their impressive debut, and feels like a slightly wasted opportunity despite the quality it still contains.
