Throught the more than fifty years of existence, Metal music has paved a way to create its own vocabulary full of terms , expressions and others that help express our unique way of being. To some extent, by the tittle of an album or the name of a song, it is possible to guess its genre and its Metal music subgenre. Take for instance the term ‘abyssal’ from today’s subject “In Abyssal Realms.” Many bands are using it to refer to the deepest localitions of the mind or of our sad and lonely and pathetic little planet.
It is no surprise to me that the music in “In Abyssal Realms” follows the idea of the album tittle. The dense and deep atmosphere hits the fan’s face right away. I would say the music in here is kind of intriguing due to the contrast between vocals and instrumentals. My feeling is that they do not fit at all. However, I guess this the main idea ORDH had when creating the album and shapping their music. To some extent, vocals follow the slow instrumentals, but the thing is that vocals are too harsh for a full of guitar interventions melodic instrumental that sometimes sound a little odd and off s the guitar lead in opening theme “Apis Bull.” By the way, I have to say the instrumentals here are the apex of the album. The many layers of guitars built in “Moon Of Urd“ is a fine exemple of it. Axeman Graham Brooks does a damn great job here.
The fan that is not familiar with ORDH‘s kind of music may strange and find it a little monotonous and plain, but, again, that is the idea. The extreme constrast between the melodic guitars with the harsh vocals and slow cadencing is the band’s musical signature. And, to be fair with the band, there are slower bands in the market without the same guitar shining or the druming prowness. The vocal plainness contrast too much with the more elaborated instrumentals. That’s why some might label “In Abyssal Realms” as Progressive Death Metal. I, on the other hand, would not go so far. It lacks elements ORDH‘s in music to be considered Progressive Death Metal, as far as I am concerned. The simple contrast and the tempo breaks are not enough, from where I am sit.
I would say “In Abyssal Realms” will please the initiated, but not only. Metallers that are looking for something else might like this album. Or, at least, find it very intriguing.
ORDH “In Abyssal Realms” was released on April 17th via Pulverised Records.
Track Listing:
1. Apis Bull
2. Moon Of Urd
3. Phlegraean Fields
5. Hierothesion
Watch “Moon of Urd” official lyric video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!