The Aborym machine is back in action.
Still led by Fabban (bass/vocals, Summoning Saturn Voids, ex-Malfeitor…), the project rounded out by Atum (drums, Divine Codex, ex-Impiety, ex-Malfeitor…) and Munholy (guitar, ex-Malfeitor) has signed with Avantgarde Music for the release of its ninth album, Metachaos.
Red Latex Baphomet immediately sets the tone with an aggressively oppressive sound, marking the band’s return to the ice-cold mechanical violence they’ve always been known for, complementing the jagged riffs with menacing growls. There’s only a brief lull on this track, giving us a chance to catch our breath before the lead guitar kicks in, leading seamlessly into the title track Metachaos, where the band pairs haunting elements with an intoxicating and at times even surprising approach to dissonance. The composition remains relatively restrained compared to Enshrined in Putrefaction, which kicks off with a bang and rides a wave of its own devastating, highly contagious madness easily making us bang our heads as the blast beats rage on, ceasing only to give way to the infernal yet majestic The Afterlife, which also imposes its oppressive atmosphere. Everything about this track feels menacing, even the melodies that weave naturally through the layers of keyboards floating in the background, taking advantage of the track’s length to capture our minds, letting a terrifying voice carry us away to Creatures of the Night. A whistle catches us off guard, then the rhythm section picks up speed again, pounding away with full force as darkness gradually engulfs us, even throwing in a few old-school elements before transitioning into Satiate with My Sperm, which, beyond its risqué title, envelops us in a dark veil paired with very direct riffs yet also knows how to conjure up unsettling harmonics. The same goes for The Crescendo of Demise, which sets a suffocating tone from the very first notes but then nuances it with almost reassuring clean vocals, creating an interesting contrast that the musicians seem to master perfectly and which they don’t hesitate to transform into a veritable torrent of darkness or, conversely, into something almost gentle. Next up is Altar of the Lacerated which opens with a fairly original – yet again, heavily industrial-influenced intro, only to unleash its full force later on, shaping the composition through its riffs. But it’s with Voci Notturne that the trio brings the album to a close, giving free rein to their most theatrical influences to create a desolate landscape without even needing traditional instruments.
There’s no doubt about it: Aborym is now on track to achieve something great, all while staying true to its dark influences. Metachaos makes the most of both its aggressive energy and its heavier tones, making it a real joy to listen to.
85/100
