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.

UMUR "Vulgar Necrolatry" is the first demo recording by Finnish death metal act Abhorrence. The demo was independently released in February 1990 (originally on cassette tape). Abhorrence were a rather short-lived act who were only active for about a year. Within that year they released the "Vulgar Necrolatry" demo and the "Abhorrence (July 1990)" 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.

The music on the demo is old school Scandinavian death metal. The Finnish bands from those days we´re often a little more brutal and morbid compared to their generally more famous Swedish neighbours and that´s also the case with Abhorrence, who include quite a few death grinding parts in their music, with more than a slight nod towards early Carcass. Abhorrence music is more varied than that though and they successfully incorporate both mid-paced heavy and brutal grooves and morbid doomy parts too.

Considering the fact that "Vulgar Necrolatry" is a debut demo, the musicianship is actually on a very high level. The band are in other words well playing and the growling vocals are delivered with both passion and great conviction. The sound production is murky, raw, and savage, but only further enhances the feeling of doom and gloom which the music already conveys. Along with some of the contemporary demos from artists like Demigod, Disgrace, Xysma, Funebre, and Sentenced, "Vulgar Necrolatry" represents the premier league of Finnish death metal demo material from the early 90s, and upon conclusion a 3.5 star (70%) rating is therefore deserved.