ALBUM REVIEW: Hail The Abyss – Thulcandra

Blackened death metal outfit THULCANDRA have materialised in various forms throughout their extensive tenure but founding member and driving force Steffen Kummerer has remained ever present to progress this project into the powerhouse you see today. Their fifth full-length album Hail The Abyss is on the horizon and is poised to elevate them to new heights.

In The Eye Of Heaven commences in energetic fashion with a confident, melodic stride and prominent drum beats. Caustic screams join forces with the plentiful intricacies scattered throughout, displaying a promising opener. Hail The Abyss ups the ante with ferocious blast beats and rapid shredding that honours the IMMORTAL playbook. Cleverly structured lead work brings a distinct catchiness to the forefront. At Night offers up a brief yet skilful acoustic passage before the blackened procession resumes with Velvet Damnation. Packed full of vigour and enticing tones, this effort continues the powerful assault.

On The Wings Of Cosmic Fire possesses a slower, more methodical pacing but is still packed with crunchy riffing and gritty vocal sections whilst Acheronian Cult opts for alluringly sinister undertones that are remarkably charming. An abundance of melodic hooks are proficiently executed. As I Walk Through The Gateway pounces straight back into the full-throttle frenzy as impressive drum rhythms make their presence felt.

This approach rubs off on Blood Of Slaves as the carnage refuses to budge. Swift instrumentation keeps the momentum flowing. In Darkness We Descend provides an additional acoustic interlude and a pocket of elegant escapism, teeing up the grand finale. The Final Closure eases you in with calm melodic swathes before gradually building additional elements into the mix. This track goes about its business in quite a composed fashion, focusing on the journey rather than delivering you to the finish line at breakneck velocity.

Hail The Abyss showcases a wealth of talents and skills during its runtime as each track has evidently been meticulously crafted for maximum efficiency. THULCANDRA have proven they are more than equipped to contend with the best this genre has to offer and this effort may just be their most impressive yet.

Rating: 9/10

Hail The Abyss is set for release on 19th May via Napalm Records.

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