From Bandcamp, “Dark Descent heralds the first coming of ABERRATOR, a yet unknown entity devoted to the ancient arts of death metal mastery, unleashing “Beckoning Tribulation,” a devastating full-length, straight out of the gate. Influenced by the darkest of death metal and death/doom - particularly of US and Finnish origins - the band fit the Dark Descent roster like a key to a crypt. “Beckoning Tribulation” is a lens into the human condition, the inevitable decline due to the innate zealotry and hypocrisy within our species,” states N.H. “The triumphant proclamation of the death of god and the impending doom of mankind as it struggles within the vacuum this creates.”

The album has seven songs, and “Plague Monarch Ascendant” is first. It comes out of the gate with a heavy buzz that sounds like a swarm of killer wasps, but when the harsh vocals hit, it slows, like a combination of Black and Doom Metal. From there, the sounds flirts with straight Death Metal. “Flagellation Crusade” is a shorter, three-minute blast of chaotic riffing, machine gun drums, and horrid vocals. “Doomed Quintessence” is slower and more in the realm of Doom Metal, but the production isn’t typical for Doom…it’s overly treble based like Black Metal is. It’s an odd mixture of several genres so far, but it works so far.

“Beckoning Tribulation” has another slow entrance, almost like you are slowly descending into Hell. The vocals are horrid, almost as if they come from the Underlord himself. It’s a deep and dark song that reaches the recesses of your worst fears. “Spiritual Attrition” showcases more of the band’s musicianship, with constantly moving riffs and a pedal to the metal type of attitude. “Emissary of Suffering” is the kind of song that buzzes into your ears and seeps into your brain, with a foul substance that rots you from the inside out. “Of the Crucible” closes the album, and it borders on madness at first, and then it descends down, and down, until you are engulfed and snuffed out forever.

In today’s Metal world, many bands are coming up refusing to be limited to one main genre. This relatively new feature in Metal assures that the listener won’t grow tired of the same sound over and over again, and ABERRATOR works hard in this genre bending album to just plow into you and turn you inside out before departing.