STATIC ABYSS — Aborted from Reality (review)

STATIC ABYSS — Aborted from Reality album cover

Album · 2023 · Death Metal

3.5/5 · 2023-10-13
UMUR

"Aborted from Reality" is the second full-length studio album by US, California based death metal act Static Abyss. The album was released through Peaceville Records in June 2023. It´s the successor to "Labyrinth Of Veins" from April 2022 and features the same duo lineup of drummer/lead vocalist Chris Reifert and bassist/guitarist Greg Wilkinson. Both of whom have long careers on the extreme metal scene. Reifert is of course primarily known for his work with Death, Autopsy, and Abscess, but he has been involved in a long line of other projects through the years and he deservedly bears the title of death metal legend these days. Wilkinson joined Autopsy in 2021 but has also been involved with quite a few other extreme metal projects as well as doing production work.

Just as the case was on "Labyrinth Of Veins", Wilkinson is responsible for mixing, mastering, and engineering "Aborted from Reality", so this is truly a duo release with no outside influences or ideas thrown in. Static Abyss are a 100% autonomous act. Although that is praise worthy, I´d say in this case it presents a few issues. First of all the material featured on "Aborted from Reality" could just as well have been included on "Labyrinth Of Veins". There´s almost no difference in sound or development of style between the two releases, and if I didn´t know any better, I´d put money on the material from both releases having been written and recorded during the same sessions and only afterwards distributed over two full-length studio releases. The very similar sounding production jobs of the two albums further strengthens that theory.

With that out of the way, "Aborted from Reality" is still a good quality old school death metal release, with both death/doom metal elements, hardcore punk influences, and a nice dose of filthy and gore/horror infested lyrics. Static Abyss operate much in the same area as Autopsy (and Abscess to a lesser degree), which is of course only natural, but there are differences between the two acts. Static Abyss for example have a very distinct sounding morbid lead guitar tone and style, which provide the music with a othwerworldly and abstract horror atmosphere, and it´s definitely that part of the music which is most intriguing. Reifert sounds as sick and depraved as ever with his tortured growling vocals and organic drumming.

So all in all another great old school death metal release from Static Abyss, but I do hope they´ll think of something new for the next release. You can´t play it safe for too long when playing this type of music. Otherwise it´ll become stale, tired, and one-dimensional. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

6 months ago
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UMUR wrote:

6 months ago

Yeah I´m pretty much thinking the same thing. They are pretty equal in quality though, it´s just that this one sounds almost like a copy of hte first, and why would you want to purchase the same album twice.