BLOOD ABSCISSION: “I I”

(Last Friday Debemur Morti Productions unveiled the second album from the shadowy black metal band Blood Abscission, and today we share thoughts about it written by our Norway-based contributor Chile.)

Everyone loves a good mystery story in their metal. It mesmerizes the listener, it heightens the experience, it pulls you in and makes you a part of something extraordinary. And certainly, a lot of metal music is no stranger to mystery, but black metal is the one genre where it all comes together, having a natural penchant for histrionics and lurking in the shadows. 

Mystery made many a band on the scene more interesting and more attractive to the audience, for theatricality and deception are powerful weapons. We needn’t look further than the last ten years of bands appearing in their hoodie-wearing, face-covered outfits, having only initials for identities. If we’re lucky that is, for there are those who opt for total anonymity.

And so the anonymous mystery streak continues with our guests today, of whom nothing is truly known, except that their name is Blood Abscission and that they make great black metal. Speculating on origin or any additional information would be just that, a speculation, and since I absolutely suck at lottery or guessing games, we’ll leave it at that.

Anyway, as informed by our streaming overlords, one of my most-listened songs in 2023 was the very reason I’m writing this today, that being Blood Abscission’s “I – V” of their stunning debut release “I” which firmly remains in rotation to this day. 

Being an independent release makes it even more impressive, but also understandable that it has flown under most people’s radars at the time. Lucky for all, the good people at Debemur Morti will re-release it on April 11th, the same day a new Blood Abscission record comes out.

Keeping the pattern set by the debut, the new album is simply called “I I”. The song titles follow suit by just having the Roman numerals as identifiers, bringing a whiff of spiritual absolutism to play, not wanting to distract the listener with song names by giving them the extra-musical signifiers but letting the music speak for itself and make an impact, or in the words of the band themselves:

“United in pain, we step into the abyss – not as mere individuals, but as a collective force seeking meaning within the chaos, finding a voice in the silence between the stars.”

Speaking of impact, it is felt immediately as the feedback rushes out of the speakers to meet the first pulsating riff bringing “II – I” into life. The song proverbially twists and turns down many paths, none of them easy to tread, through shadows to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight. 

Vocals are noticeably buried somewhat deeper in the album’s mix and treated as an instrument that works in unison with the others, reinforcing the aforementioned idea of a collective force. And what a force it is, for the whole band just kills it throughout these opening twelve minutes.

“II – II” charges on and we can safely say that these six and a half minutes are the fastest six and a half minutes on the album, with guitars particularly being the highlight of an absolute gem of a song. All this can be said even taking into account the slower middle part that has a certain Amestigon thing going on (think “358” of Thier) before storming out again at full speed to meet its end. Maybe Blood Abscission come from Austria then, who knows.

“II – III” turns a page with a clean intro that builds slowly, not unlike Mgła’s “With Hearts Toward None VII”, into a full-blown aural attack with keyboards playing a prominent role. Melody repeating over the thundering guitars again brings up the ghost of the Polish black metal giants, having a passing resemblance to something off Exercises in Futility. 

Then again at the same time, the whole setup with all the keyboard adornments and the way the vocals are positioned in the mix has a similar vibe to Ultha’s All That Has Never Been True. Does this indicate that the band are German or maybe Polish, well, take your pick.

The band keeps on surprising with “II – IV” which seems to be cut from the same cloth as the latest from Hangman’s Chair (so, they’re French, probably) and one song where the band really puts the atmospheric in atmospheric black metal, a true companion to the minimalistic cover art. 

Keyboards prevail over a somber guitar line in what is the shortest track on the album, which seamlessly gives way to the phenomenal “II – V” that has all of the band’s traits, but then after the second minute mark it turns onto a even darker path, ramping up the aggression and speed with the vocals seemingly spiraling out of the void and turning into unintelligible, rageful screaming.

In the end, all we can say is that Debemur Morti has another winner on its hands as the band itself is intent on leaving a lasting mark on the scene. This time, with a little help of the old promotional magic, Blood Abscission should receive the attention this album deserves and if the anonymity and the mystery surrounding it helps even one bit, then so be it.

I I is out on April 11th on Debemur Morti Productions in all available formats. Pre-orders for both of the band’s records and all related merchandise are possible via EU, US, and Bandcamp stores.

https://bloodabscission.bandcamp.com/album/i-i
https://www.debemur-morti.com/en/658-blood-abscission