(We present Todd Manning’s review of an album released by the Ohio band Abraded through Redefining Darkness Records on September 26th.)
Metal, punk, grind, and hardcore are definitely separate genres, yet those bands that explore the overlap often are some of the most vicious around. Cleveland’s Abraded know this territory well and rule it with a crusty hand. Their latest, Ethereal Emanations From Cthonic Caries, dropped recently courtesy of Redefining Darkness.
Both grindcore bands and death metal bands make use of the blast beat, but when it comes from the grindcore side of things, it just hits different. Bands such as Abraded possess that grindcore-driven sound, full of kinetic physical violence. Despite the tempos that death metal bands achieve, these grindcore-style beats just sound faster.
Although Abraded now have a full lineup for shows, on this album mainman Patric Pariano is credited with doing basically everything (with David Kirsch on bass), and the drumming is maniacal. Just listen to opener “Ethereal Emanations” as he dances between ripping grind beats, crusty D beats, and mid-paced death metal riffs. For the vocals, his unhinged approach splits the difference between low and hardcore vocals and the kind of crazed, hyper-fast approach that Kataklysm used on their very early albums, such as Temple of Knowledge, before they slowed down.
With all that being said, this is unmistakably a death metal album. Obviously, anything titled Ethereal Emanations From Cthonic Caries is aimed in that direction. The midtempo riffs bring to mind Cannibal Corpse and early Cryptopsy, although not quite as technical. All the songs are murderous, but particular standouts include “Compensatory Contrarianism”, “Cthonic Caries”, and “Theodicy”.
“Compensatory Contrarianism” features a bit of unusual instrumental interplay, the drums seemingly in conversation with the rest of the band, particularly David Kirsch’s’s bass. And the vocals are even more unhinged than usual.
“Cthonic Caries” features an intro that sounds like it came from the darkest corners of D-Beat punk, but the next riff invokes the mighty Bolt Thrower. Grind riffs and old school death metal sections careen off each other at every change, maximum killing efficiency achieved throughout.
“Theodicy” closes the album. The tom-driven intro and putrid, almost gagging vocals nod towards the filth of classic Autopsy. After a bit more of Bolt Thrower riffing, they can’t stay away from the speed for long. Blast beats land like a cruise missile and begin to alternate with their most challenging, almost tech death sections. The vocals are almost convulsive in this section, sounding like the victim of a chainsaw mutilation in a gore movie. Eventually, he descends into just wretching sounds.
Abraded know how to deliver the goods. They are definitely death metal in spirit, but raid the d-beat and grind catalogs often and effectively. This cross-pollination captures the old school death metal spirit better than genre purity ever could. This is nasty stuff and death metal fiends should seek this out immediately.
https://abraded-official.bandcamp.com/album/ethereal-emanations-from-chthonic-caries
https://redefiningdarkness.8merch.us/
https://redefiningdarkness.8merch.com/
https://www.instagram.com/abraded_official/
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