With the long winter nights of Oslo’s nightlife that gave birth to some of Metal genres most infamous and well known bands to this day, it's no wonder the region produces a certain sound. Be it the infernal and blasphemous Black Metal or the dark and vile aggression of Death Metal.  Norwegian Metal just hits differently. It has that raw, cold and dark element of which I personally enjoy greatly. ABHORRATION captures this essence and brings the tone back to an earlier time, a time when the vileness was just beginning to rot. Not to mistake them for the more earlier North American band from the USA. No, these guys are much different.

Having formed within the great pandemic of 2020, ABHORRATION was just beginning to fester after Magnus moved back home from Australia, leaving behind the project HECATOMB. With the strong desire of infecting the world with the sinister aggressive tones of Death, Magnus quickly got to work. With the vision clear in mind and paired with the experience, it wasn't long before the band took shape and released their first demo “After Winter Comes War” that was released under Invictus Productions within the late part of 2021. This projected ABHORRATION to where we are today, the release of their debut full-length album “Demonolatry”.

Looking at the album “Demonolatry” that was released on September 27, 2024 under the same banner of Invictus Productions, it offers a familiar tone from when Death was just taking shape. With six tracks that offers up a raw and dark intensity that will remind you of the festering aggression of the late 80’s to early 90’s death. With 36:49 minutes, This album is sure to spread like a disease and show the world what old school Norwegian Death Metal is all about. Or so they hope.

There is not much to say about the album art that doesn't scream demo from the early 90’s here. The simple black and white drawing of a giant devil in hell holding an upside down cross in one hand while a tortured soul in the other. The band's logo sits upper right while the album is displayed in the bottom left within a downward fashion and gothic font. I dig this art and based on this imagery, I can already anticipate what is to come, and I like it.

Like a shotgun blast to the senses, “Chamber of Agilarept” is unleashed as the opening track. Raw and aggressive, the track takes off with a thick chord progression that chugs with the bass while the lead just shreds overtop as the bestial vocals corrodes everything. This track hits hard and fast that leads into a decent breakdown before switching up the pace a bit. It slows for a bit before picking back up within a chaotic intensity.  “Ai Apaec” follows up with the same chaotic raw aggression as the next track. A bit of a slower start, however, it quickly switches up into a barrage of heavy blast beats, low tuned fast riffs and a lead that shreds. The speed and intensity is amazing here.

There are only six tracks here but I want more! This album absolutely destroys in such an aggressive and raw fashion. “Demonolatry” is everything that death metal had spawned from so long ago. You can hear the influences from bands like POSSESSED,  SADISTIC INTENT, SINISTER and even a bit of WAR MASTER and early MORBID ANGEL. With all of these influences that help guide ABHORRATION, they manage to still find their own sound. The older, more raw intensity and aggressive chaotic tone that is displayed on this album is so good. For me I love this form of unapologetic death that comes like a torrent of raw distortion. The intricate time switches, the way the album sounds. Simply disgusting in all the right ways.

 “Demonolatry” is a solid track that closes off an amazing album with intricate time switches. Though it is of a slower pace and more influenced by slam riffs, it still hits with a level of unbridled distorted aggression. The end breakdown of feedback that builds into a rush of high leads and a fast pace chord progressions before a quick end. Heavy end to an amazing album. I want more, so much more.

This album is so disgusting. The raw distortion that blasts you with chaotic aggression, the overall tone that fits the older Death Metal of an era long ago. Overall this album is amazing, is it perfect, probably not. But that is the point. It is unapologetic raw Death in all of its disgusting glory. So if you like the older Death Metal tone from the mid 80’s to early 90’s, then this album is for you. Go get a copy and thank me later.