UMUR "Abhorrence" is an EP release by Finnish death metal act Abhorrence. The EP was released through Seraphic Decay Records in July 1990. Abhorrence were a rather short-lived act who were only active for about a year. Within that year they released the Feburary 1990 "Vulgar Necrolatry" demo and this EP. Both recordings are available on the "Completely Vulgar" (Svart Records, May 2012) compilation. While Abhorrence never rose above underground "fame" and recognition, guitarist Tomi Koivusaari went on to form Amorphis, with whom he has since experienced great success. "Vulgar Necrolatry" was sold in quite a few copies and distributed internationally through underground tape trading, and it was a popular underground death metal demo. Abhorrence therefore had more than a few labels contacting them regarding a future EP release, and they evntually ended up choosing Seraphic Decay Records.

Stylistically the music on the 4 tracks (5 tracks if you count the intro), 13:04 minutes long EP is old school Scandinavian death metal. A murky buzzing guitar sound, brutal vocals, and variation between slow- to mid paced drumming and faster blasting sections. The tracks are well composed with both the right amounts of brutality and gloomy atmosphere (morbid leads and heavy doomy atmospheres are some of the ingredients). The sound production is slightly more professional than the case was on the "Vulgar Necrolatry" demo, but we´re still not talking a professional sounding release. The sound is still relatively lo-fi, murky and unpolished, but the rawness of the sound production perfectly suits the equally raw and brutal music.

The "Abhorrence" EP is a nice closing chapter to the very short career of Abhorrence, which faded out before the band were able to record a full-length studio album. They still left quite a mark on the Finnish death metal scene, and of course Koivusaari later affiliation with Amorphis has brought a retroactive interest to Abhorrence and their rather limited output but nicely brutal and well composed death metal. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.