Tag Archives: Abiotic

ALBUM REVIEW: Demonstealer – The Propaganda Machine

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One of the most influential figures in the constantly evolving Indian metal scene, vocalist and guitarist Demonstealer (aka Sahil Makhija) is probably best known for fronting progressive technical death metal act Demonic Resurrection. Since 2000, Makhija has been integral to the growth and development of a metal scene in a country not exactly renowned for its metallic input. Not just via his music and the establishment of India’s first designated metal recording studio, a record label (Demonstealer Records), and metal-centric festival (Resurrection Festival), but by creating Headbanger’s Kitchen, the world’s first heavy metal cookery show. Because why not.

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Abiotic Announce September Headline Tour

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Floridian progressive tech death up and comers Abiotic have announced a brief headline tour next month. The first dates begin on September 4th with more shows tba. Joining them will be Reaping Asmodeia, starting September 7th. Abiotic released Causistry from Metal Blade this past April.

Abiotic tour dates with Reaping Asmodeia:

Sep 04: The A&M Theater- Panama City, FL
Sep 05: Walter’s – Houston, TX
Sep 06: The Hoodang Music Festival – Austin, TX
w/Reaping Asmodeia
Sep 07: Tomcat’s West- Fort Worth, TX
Sep 10: Lefty’s Live Music – Des Moines, IA
Sep 11: The Borg Ward – Milwaukee, WI
Sep 12: Zoo Cabaret- Winnipeg, MB
Sep 13: Mercury Room- Edmonton, AB
Sep 14: Nite Owl – Calgary, AB
Sep 15: Funky Winkerbeans – Vancouver, BC

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Abiotic – Casuistry

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In recent years the tides of change have shored upon Miami death metaller’s Abiotic, from signing to stalwarts Metal Blade to the additions of vocalist Travis Bartosek and Brent Phillips on drums, the latter especially supposedly invigorating the band with a renewed sense of exploration. In comparison to their debut, Casuistry (Metal Blade) certainly seems a step up the ladder, if not a mammoth leap.

On the surface there is very little that differentiates Casuistry from the hordes of like minded technical death metal bands that seeming to be jumping out of the wood work; from the rather sanitized but precise production values, the tones and the sheer technicality. Even Bartosek’s contributions, despite being an improvement on vocals, still fit the mould of their peers too well to stand out.

Where this does hold its head up is in its songwriting, which despite not being spectacular does successfully blend the use of towering grooves with the complexity the genre brings to mind; doing so without either element being overbearing. The songs are actually memorable and not purely exercises in virtuosity and style over substance. On the more unpredictable elements, Phillips deserves a mention for display which enables the band to move through more jarring and sudden pace changes with ease; offering Abiotic a much improved performance.

There is still work to be done if Abiotic want to reach the top of the pile in the technical death arena, but Casuistry shows clear signs of moving forward and development. Not a game changer by any means, but a solid effort in an ever more crowded landscape.

 

7.0/10

Abiotic on Facebook

 

CHRIS TIPPELL


Apophys – Prime Incursion

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For those who get their kicks from death metal bands with sci-fi lyrical concepts rather than tried and tested blood n’ guts themes, the debut record from Dutch stargazers Apophys will be more welcome than cast iron evidence of Area 51’s nefarious deeds. Featuring current members of God Dethroned and Detonation in their ranks, the quintet have recorded one seriously heavy record in Prime Incursion (Metal Blade) and have set the bar very high for fellow competitors who believe in scheming reptilians rather than bloodthirsty demons.

The band deliver a systematic battering over the course of nine tracks that hit harder than a sledgehammer, yet still find the time for the odd bit of noodling or a breakdown in speed to collect themselves before the onslaught begins again. Aided by a seemingly inhuman drummer who wields his double-bass pedals like pneumatic drills, the atmosphere remains tense and punishing throughout. This is best demonstrated by the sinister film quote and monstrous groove that begin ‘The Antidote’ while opening track ‘Dimensional Odyssey’ is a no-holds-barred bludgeon that brings to mind vintage Decapitated. Elsewhere, the eerie melodies of ‘Ego’ conjure images of an abandoned spacecraft drifting into the void, the slaughtered crew a testament to the madness which occurred there.

Clocking in at a mere thirty-nine minutes and thankfully avoiding pointless interludes that plague fellow bands with progressive ambitions, Prime Incursion gets the job done in uncompromising style and shows a band with an equal level of talent and prospects. The riffs are devastating, the vocals guttural, and the rhythm section is out of this world. Fans of the likes of Abiotic and Slugdge would do well to check this out when they get a break from listening to the police scanner.

 

7.5/10

Apophys on Facebook

 

JAMES CONWAY


Abiotic Streaming “The Absence of Purity” Video With Between The Buried and Me Guitarist

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Abiotic is streaming a video showing how to play the guest solo on “The Absence of Purity” by Between the Buried and Me’s Paul Waggoner, here. The song is off of their new album Casuistry, out April 21, 2015 via Metal Blade Records.

The band will be hitting the road in April on a North American tour with Boris The Blade, Alterbeast and more.


Alterbeast Supporting Boris The Blade, Abiotic, etc on North American Tour

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Sacramento progressive death metallers Alterbeast will be supporting Abiotic and Boris The Blade on a North American tour this spring. They are supporting Immortal, out now via Unique Leader Records. Stream “Flesh Bound Text” here.

Download “Flesh Bound Text” and “Mutilated Marvel” for free below.

Formed in 2011 under the working title Gary Busey Amber Alert (GBAA), Alterbeast combines the teachings of The Black Dahlia Murder, Necrophagist and Spawn Of Possession with the classic death metal mastery of band’s like Dissection and Morbid Angel into an irately cathartic sound expulsion.

ALTERBEAST w/ Boris The Blade, Abiotic, Reaping Asmodeia:
Apr 12: Hotshots – Shreveport, LA
Apr 13: Riot Room – Kansas City, MO (w/ Vital Remains, Vale Of Pnath)
w/ Boris the Blade, Alterbeast, Reaping Asmodeia:
Apr 15: High Tone Cafe – Memphis, TN
Apr 16: Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
Apr 17: 10th Street Live – Kenilworth, NJ
Apr 18: Coco 66 – Brooklyn, NY
Apr 20: Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
Apr 21: Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
Apr 22: The Ritz – Detroit, MI
Apr 23: Vintage Villains – Danville, IL
Apr 24: Bada Brew – Crest Hill, IL
Apr 25: Warehouse – Lacrosse, WI
Apr 26: Metal Grill – Milwaukee, WI
Apr 27: Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA
w/ Boris The Blade, Abiotic:
Apr 28: The Skatuary – Denver, CO
Apr 29: Metro Bar – Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 30: Green T – Pocatello, ID
w/ Boris The Blade, Abiotic, Lord Of War:
May 02: The Pin – Spokane, WA
May 03: Duffy’s Hangar – Salem, OR
May 05: The Rockbar – San Jose, CA
May 06: The Grizzly Den – Upland ,CA
May 07: Rock City Studios – Camarillo, CA

Alterbeast on YouTube


Abiotic Streaming “Cast Into The Depths”

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abiotic casuistry

South Florida death metallers Abiotic will be kicking off a lengthy North American tour in April with Boris The Blade, Alterbeast and others. They will be touring in support of Casuitry, out April 21, 2015 via Metal Blade Records. Stream “Cast Into The Depths,” which features Dying Fetus frontman John Gallagher on guest vocals, here.

ABIOTIC:
Apr 12: Hotshots – Shreveport, LA
Apr 13: Riot Room – Kansas City, MO (w/ Vital Remains, Vale Of Pnath)
w/ Boris the Blade, Alterbeast, Reaping Asmodeia:
Apr 15: High Tone Cafe – Memphis, TN
Apr 16: Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
Apr 17: 10th Street Live – Kenilworth, NJ
Apr 18: Coco 66 – Brooklyn, NY
Apr 20: Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
Apr 21: Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
Apr 22: The Ritz – Detroit, MI
Apr 23: Vintage Villains – Danville, IL
Apr 24: Bada Brew – Crest Hill, IL
Apr 25: Warehouse – Lacrosse, WI
Apr 26: Metal Grill – Milwaukee, WI
Apr 27: Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA
w/ Boris The Blade, Alterbeast:
Apr 28: The Skatuary – Denver, CO
Apr 29: Metro Bar – Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 30: Green T – Pocatello, ID
w/ Boris The Blade, Alterbeast, Lord Of War:
May 02: The Pin – Spokane, WA
May 03: Duffy’s Hangar – Salem, OR
May 05: The Rockbar – San Jose, CA
May 06: The Grizzly Den – Upland ,CA
May 07: Rock City Studios – Camarillo, CA
May 08: Soma – San Diego, CA

boris the blade abiotic alterbeast reaping asmodeia tour

Abiotic on YouTube
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Abiotic Releasing Casuistry April 21st

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Abiotic is releasing their new album Casuistry on April 21, 2015 via Metal Blade Records. In support of the record, they will be hitting the road on an extensive North American tour, which is posted below. Stream “Cast Into The Depths,” featuring John Gallagher of Dying Fetus on guest vocals, here.

They had re-tooled their line up by adding vocalist Travis Bartosek and drummer Brent Phillips. In the late summer of 2014, Abiotic ventured to Basement Recordings with acclaimed producer Jamie King.

The addition of Brent Phillips and Travis Bartosek were particularly influential on the recording process. Phillip’s drumming allowed for the band to spend more time exploring tones and sounds than ever before. He brought a renewed sense of groove and feel to the process, along with being the fastest drummer the band has played with to date. Vocally, fans will notice the largest change here. Bartosek took over lyric writing duties and topics range from suicide, Middle East conflict, religion, and a bit of misanthropy. An additional note on vocals – John Gallagher of Dying Fetus can be heard lending his trademark sounds on “Cast Into the Depths.”

ABIOTIC Headline Dates:
Apr 09: Walters – Houston, TX
Apr 10: Empire Control Room – Austin, TX (Texas Independent Fest)*
Apr 11: Yays – San Angelo, TX
*Denotes Festival Appearance

ABIOTIC w/ Boris the Blade, Alterbeast, Reaping, Asmodeia
Apr 12: Hotshots – Shreveport, LA
Apr 13: Riot Room – Kansas City, MO (w/Vital Remains & Vale of Pnath)
Apr 15: High Tone Records – Memphis, TN
Apr 16: Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
Apr 17: 10th Street Live – Kenilworth, NJ
Apr 18: Coco 66 – Brooklyn, NY
Apr 20: Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
Apr 21: Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
Apr 22: The Ritz – Detroit, MI
Apr 23: Vintage Villains – Danville, IL
Apr 24: Bada Brew – Crest Hill, IL
Apr 25: Warehouse – Lacrosse, WI
Apr 26: Metal Grill – Milwaukee, WI
Apr 27: Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA

ABIOTIC w/Boris the Blade, Alterbeast
Apr 28: The Skatuary – Denver, CO
Apr 29: Metro Bar – Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 30: Green T – Pocatello, ID

ABIOTIC w/Boris the Blade, Alterbeast, Lord of War
May 02: The Pin – Spokane, WA
May 03: Duffy’s Hangar – Salem, OR
May 05: The Rockbar – San Jose, CA
May 06: The Grizzly Den – Upland, CA
May 07: Rock City Studios – Camarillo, CA
May 08: Soma – San Diego, CA

ABIOTIC Headline Date:
May 09: The Underground – Mesa, AZ