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BAND: Ashes of Abaddon
ALBUM: "Demo"
YEAR RELEASED: n/a
RECORD LABEL: none
ALBUM TYPE: DEMO
* * * * * (5 out of 10 stars)
Tonight, we're taking a putrid walk into the vast infected roads that lead into the vile realm that is Ashes of Abaddon. This demo is a collection of audio files that are available through their official web site, and ReverbNation page.
First, we'll cover the demo track of (Turn of the Fist). As you can tell
by the opening riffs of this track, these guys definitely have a particular vision in mind. They are building up, and working towards something bigger than I believe they have even imagined may be possible. With a hand full of thrash elements, (Turn of the Fist) seems like you are witnessing a live mammalian birth take place before your very eyes. If you have ever seen a giraffe tumble out of the womb, and unto the earth; only to be drenched as if it has won the Super Bowl (in American Football, that is) by its own afterbirth, then you have an idea of where I'm coming from. The track is very solid, but leaves just a bit more to be desired. Imagine sticking your foot in a pool to test the waters... "Turn of the Fist"
Next, we have a demo version of the song, titled (The Infected). This is where you can see a strong death metal influence replace the typical American thrash roots found on the first track. This is, most certainly, my favorite Ashes of Abaddon track. It is straight forward, and in your face. With a bit better of a production value, a bit more focus on bridging the gaps between sections, and a few less audio samples, this song could easily be the definitive sound of Ashes of Abaddon. I would like to take this time to encourage the fellas in Ashes of Abaddon to explore the song-writing process that you followed when composing this song. It is dynamic, it takes you down a winding path that seems like you are being driven blindly into, and through, the forest... before wrapping it up briefly, with a familiar riff that got you hooked.
(Damnation) is the next track in our journey. If you have ever heard a solid death metal track, this is pretty much what you will find in (Damnation). Tremolo picking; the riffs are catchy & crunchy; they seem to be fluctuating the flow of the song at every turn. I dig this track. The song itself is not mind-blowing, but the potential of what it could be makes me want to drive straight up to Idaho with some A+ recording equipment, buy the boys a 30 pack or 2, rent a barn for a week, and hear what beautiful metal can come from it…
Lastly, we have the track (Advancing Doom) to round out the 4 track demo. This song has epic-ness written from the first riff. I'm not quite sure, but it sounds as if one of the guitars was not recorded well. Unfortunately, it seems like a muffled yell in the forest, at what would be the most brutal build up of the demo. If you are able to strain enough to hear it, you will realize how amazingly brutal this song must be to hear live. If this song were to be re-recorded, and they were to up the playing speed, this is definitely a song that I would feel obligated to share with my closest metal kin.
To sum up it up, I believe that this demo from Ashes of Abaddon is great, but only if you can observe what is, and imagine what will be. This is one of the most solid demos I have heard in a long time. I cannot wait to hear the next chapter in the saga that is Ashes of Abaddon. Personally, in their next demo, I would love to see the tracks faster, a little louder, and played with a lot more confidence. They have the songwriting down. Now comes the time to display the power, and force, of the music.