CoC : Abyssic Hate - Suicidal Emotions : Review

Abyssic Hate - _Suicidal Emotions_
(No Colours, 2001)
by: Alvin Wee (8.5 out of 10)

Finally... the long awaited full-length from this Aussie cult, after driving fans nuts with a stream of elusive tracks on compilations, split CDs and tapes. Followers of the underground scene should already know what to expect: pure Burzum/Darkthrone worship in the old way like many of the bands in the NSBM scene. For a band that's often mentioned in the same breath as Mutiilation, Nargaroth and Judas Iscariot, Abyssic Hate doesn't fail to deliver the coldest breath of melancholy on _Suicidal Emotions_. The four track titles reading "Depression: Part I", "Betrayed", Depression: Part II" and "Despondency" should be warning enough even before the disc begins spinning; indeed, the opening dirge reeks of Burzum's early repetitive, droning melancholy, setting the stage for more gloom to come. Clocking in at a surprising 49 minutes, the four tracks don't stand out individually as much as create a single oppressive atmosphere. Not a band to work up a sweat, Abyssic Hate never allows the pace to increase beyond a docile canter; rhythm-wise, things are equally understated with the drums tapping out a simplistic Fenriz-type tattoo in the background while the guitars buzz along amiably (well, not quite) with the old atmosphere sadly lacking in the current scene. Not much left to say, really, as originality isn't quite the band's forte. Still not a bad thing for die-hards who can't get over Grischnack's change of style since _Hvis Lyset Tar Oss_, and even the pervasive monotony and repetition on the album can be passed off with a straight face as atmosphere. Certainly up there with the best of 'em in the genre (read: Judas Iscariot, Moonblood, Katharsis, etc.), and it's wonderful to see a few German underground labels spewing out bands like these.

Contact: info@no-colours-records.de

(article published 13/5/2001)