To be perfectly frank, the biggest issue with Static Abyss’ Aborted from Reality (Peaceville Records) is that they decided to release the album the same year as Obituary’s recent destroyer, Dying of Everything. It’s been a consistent thorn on the side of Chris Reifert and Greg Wilkinson for quite some time as Obituary has always outshined their most well-known project, Autopsy, as well.

And yes, if the sole reason you’re giving Aborted from Reality a spin is because it’s from some of the masterminds behind Autopsy then you are in luck. Static Abyss very much sounds like Autopsy. Shit, the only reason I buy Cavalera Conspiracy’s stuff is because it reminds me of the good old Sepultura days. Stay gold, Max Cavalera, your four-string guitar antics continue to bring me joy. 

But back to the slaughter at hand. Reifert knows his crushing Death Metal well as showcased on the firestorm that is ‘Crosses and Coffins’ or the Napalm Death-like survival sprint ‘Poisoned Limb.’ Guitarist/bassist Wilkinson also flexes his chops with surprisingly melodic lead work on the opening title track. 

‘Unrepentant Mutant Serpent’ gets going with a nice gallop, but everything comes to a crashing halt halfway in and settles on a rather monotone doom crawl. That meandering pace plagues all five minutes and change of ‘Cathedral of Vomit’ as the band goes through the motions but conjures up some lazy drum work. The same can be said for stretches of ‘Cerebral Ghost.’ 

How does Obituary factor into all of this? Well, like the players here they are quite adept at wrangling dashing tempos and lead guitar work while also being able to swim in some murky mid and Doom tempo waters. And on the aforementioned Dying of Everything they’re pulling off the slower stuff with more corrosive bile and confidence.

Buy the album here:

https://peaceville.bandcamp.com/album/aborted-from-reality

6 / 10

HANS LOPEZ