ALBUM REVIEW: Abyssal – Humanity’s Last Breath

Extreme metal has felt something like a cold war of late. With bands locked in an ever more bloodthirsty arms race, the endgame seems to be creating the heaviest possible iteration of music by constantly pushing the boundaries and redefining what the word ‘heaviness’ even means. HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH have long since been at the helm of this movement, and are set to return with a contribution that will send shock waves throughout a fan base sat eagerly in anticipation.

Hailing from the very Kingslands of metal, the Swedish quartet last shocked the world with their 2016 release Detestor. Most bands are capable of writing good quality heavy breakdowns, or pounding riff passages, but with Detestor HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH achieved something more. By employing their impeccable musicianship with such ferocity, they proved that the most extreme of bands can step away from being simply a gimmick, towards an audience that viewed them as a force to be reckoned with.

The result was something that no-one had ever quite heard before. Comparisons could be made to UK heavyweights BLACK TONGUE, an outfit that has since achieved a similar level of competency, but at the time the Swedes were very much pioneers. Flash Forward to the present day and their latest effort Abyssal is set to raise the bar yet again. First impressions will leave even the most seasoned of metal fanatics with their jaws on the floor, triggered by an utter onslaught of pulverising chaos. By the time we have heard the opening riff to Bursting Bowel Of Tellus, it is clear that the band have continued where they left off, and as if it were ever in doubt, the track proceeds to be a blistering melée of blast beats, devastating riffs and technical nuances equipped to impress the most critical of analysts.

More attention than ever seems to have been paid to the vocal work of Filip Danielsson, who excels at every turn. Tracks like Bone Dust showcase his immense range, scaling from haunting whispers right the way through to a maniacal growl. It’s a hair raising performance that matches the overall ominous tone of the record, one that goes from strength to strength. Fradga makes use of high pitched slides and choppy riffs, adding to the alarming effect, and breakneck kick drums link with sinister cymbal work to add a certain clamour to the mix. Abyssal Mouth was actually reworked from its original single form, and somehow HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH have managed to squeeze even more heaviness from it. Again, Filip‘s vocals are utterly frightening, and the blast beats rip through the track like gunfire. 

It feels like being slapped in the chest, and there is no respite as we come across the monstrous Pulsating Black, where a strangely appetising, bass heavy intro leads into another attack. För Sorg is an instrumental bridge, and in relative terms it feels like a pause for breath. Of course this is short-lived, as the pace is quickened by Like Flies. If the album has felt anything like uncomfortable up to this point, that sentiment will only be augmented here, as Filip spits absolute evil, ripping through a barrage of the albums darkest riffs. Sterile is no different, and neither is Being, after demonic spoken word introduces the track.

As we expand into Vånda, the consensus it that HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH have very much outdone themselves. It is a track that grows heavier with each slash of the guitar strings, bringing a storm of frenzied energy along for the ride. They possess a level of technical intricacy that would naturally place them at the top of the food chain, even without the incomparable heavy tone of tracks like Rampant. In the realm of extreme metal, few can come close to locking heads with HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH, and as the album is finally concluded by Dödgud, we can assuredly say that the Swedish kings of Thall are not about to be knocked from their throne any time soon.

Rating: 9/10

Abyssal is out now via Unique Leader Records. 

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