Confidence can go a long way, especially in music. 

Which is to say, An Abstract Illusion are either one of the most confident bands out there, or they’re just so fucking good and don’t realize it.

Case in point: The Swedish Progressive/Atmospheric Death/Black Metal (don’t let the word salad dissuade you) outfit started off their new record The Sleeping City (Willowtip Records) with “Blackmurmur,” a scintillating experience filled with euphoric musicianship.

First it was the “holy fuck” scenario of the vocals becoming shrieks which, coupled with the drums picking up, became an auditory orgasm as the words melted into a cacophony of depression and melancholy.

Then it was the spine-tingling “Post-Cyberpunk” style eight-bit section that somehow didn’t feel as farfetched as it might sound. That and the two diametrically opposed vocal styles that bellowed and crooned throughout made for quite the stunning opening track to this behemoth.

Keeping in mind the band’s previous work, Woe was critically acclaimed (and rightfully so), it was easy to think maybe An Abstract Illusion was going to either tone things down for this run or at least give the … illusion that there isn’t much left in the tank.

Bollocks.

“No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons” features whiplashing shifts in speeds and arrangements. The dynamic of the cleans and spoken-word passages is just some of the exceptional shit that is being thrown at the wall (and is sticking). 

As mentioned earlier, don’t get lost in the sub-genre word salad. The Sleeping City pulls from a litany of sources to execute these tracks with magnificent aplomb. 

Inconceivably, “Like A Geyser Ever Erupting” becomes world-building, musically. The song becomes spacey and chant-like with a choral title refrain. 

There is further singing and Synthwave vibes sprinkled amongst the seven pieces, and then there’s the titanic “Emmett” that possesses a tremendous crescendo with chilling howls. 

It’s apropos to call this band something that is both complex and seen differently by all who experience it. And although the city they created may be sleeping, it’s a bustling metropolis of treasures to be discovered over and over again.

Buy the album here:
https://anabstractillusion.bandcamp.com/album/the-sleeping-city

9 / 10
MATT COOK
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