No rest for Nihilo.
In 2026, Ragulan (vocals), Marco (guitar), Schwab (guitar), Florian (bass), and Damiano (drums) signed with Xtreem Music and unveiled their fifth album, Abyss.
Primal Instinct hits hard and fast with aggressive opening riffs that will have everyone on the same page even before the vocalist joins the fray, delivering an incredibly effective Old School approach while even indulging in a heavy, oppressive atmosphere. The track is, however, a bit short, and gives way to Voidbound, which has the same effect, trampling us at breakneck speed with an energetic, catchy rhythm section that naturally gives rise to roaring vocals. You can almost sense Black/Death Metal influences in the darkest passages, just as on the martial Impending Doom, which follows and delivers imposing tones amid waves of head-spinning rage. We’ll find this massive sound again on the final, with the blast beat propelling us toward Dishonored Death, where the musicians darken the landscape even further to welcome Shyaithan (Impiety), who bolsters the vocal section and gives it an even more abrasive edge than usual. We’ll get a few seconds of respite before Inherent Cracks hits, picking up speed again to keep breaking our necks, even throwing in that dissonant solo to amplify the destruction of our eardrums, then Veil of Nothing takes over, bringing slightly more solemn tones that create a contrast with the usual violence that still reigns over the track. The unsettling finale lets us catch our breath once more before Suffocating Silence charges in without delay, unleashing all its brutality right in our faces while reserving a few heavy passages for itself before moving on to Fractured and its killer riffs that leave us no respite, just like those on Roots in Bone, which follow a fairly similar pattern. Fans of organized violence will be in heaven and won’t hesitate to headbang to the vocalist’s screams before the album comes to an end – though not without letting the final track, Enter the Abyss, pull us back into the darkness and strike one last blow, rooted once again in something far more sinister than pure rage.
Nihilo gets right to the point with Abyss; the album is short but as aggressive as can be, and fans of old-school death metal will be delighted. Expect a few touches of darkness, but what stands out most on this album is its sheer effectiveness!
85/100