Barbarian War Worship
Abominator
What's up Metal maniacs? I'm here once again to give you an insight on this Australian quintet known as ABOMINATOR, signed via Nuclear War Now! Productions.
Finally, music I can specialize in without trying to decipher too much on new genres like Nu Metal, Progressive and Technical, while they are OK genres; nothing can take away my love for the origins of Metal i.e, Heavy, Thrash, Death, and so on. I don't know; but there's nothing more thrilling than a full-on thrashing assault, no compromises, no restraints...that's Metal for me in a nutshell. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate new music and new explorations of talent and open-minded genres; but I like it nice and simple, and ABOMINATOR do just that.
Without going into too much about my preferences; let's talk about the band in question, shall we? ABOMINATOR here have released a compilation album full of their classics; with the band being around since 1994, it's about time, right? Well, the band seemed to have a lengthy hiatus after the release of: "The Eternal Conflagration", 4 years later, "Barbarian War Worship" gets released in 2010. And just last year in 2015; the band release "Evil Proclaimed" so, that's a good 9 years or so if you've been craving some new material.
So "Barbarian War Worship" is just an album for newcomers then you might ask? Pretty much, but there's more than meets the eye. But for newcomers sake; it's worth diving into to give you that insight for support sake. As I begin "War Worship" (tracks 1-6 are from the "Babarian War Worship" demo) I get myself into a world of a visionary mind of violent, but barbaric aggression; Andrew Undertaker on bass forms a thumping explosion of power, while Chris Volcano basically does the same on drums, while also performing some sick vocal cords. I witness a Black & Death formation that has been fused into one very well. As I proceed into "Hordes Of Impurity" the Black Metal realm comes in full circle. If you like your Metal raw; ABOMINATOR are simply for you.
Continuing on to "The Darkest Sabbat" everything feels like it'll sound similar...but that's a good thing in Black & Death Metal; you don't want things getting too mixed up, it's got to have that "in-your-face" critique or else it'll probably just sound messy. While ABOMINATOR may seem like one, big thrash about...the band have some interesting movements; such as in "Black Nuclear Mists (Holocaustic Swarm)" implements some groovy tones and beats that really got me going! Some brilliant growling segments in "Sepulchral Vomit", which suits the song's title. "The Filthy Antichrist": a great thrasher, "The Conqueror Possessed" (tracks 7-10 are from the "The Conqueror Possessed" demo) had a very nice but brutal instrumental bass and guitar tone that just prescribed "brutal face of approval" integrity, with an interestingly built in guitar solo in the middle that just made me go absolutely nuts. Perhaps my favourite song; as it has rhythm, skill and technique to give you that "feel good" -I'm so Metal- vibe.
Naturally being a compilation album; I didn't realize how long the album would be, but much later, it gets more interesting. "Damnations Prophecy" has some new demon-like vocal transitions that make this listen showcase some nice grooves that make sure to get you moving. The atmosphere of the Black Metal influence is definitely noted and the Death Metal influence can be felt with the entire experience mostly just being a very long but mental thrasher. "A Luciferian Path To Destruction" had me sense some Joe Grind vocals from TOXIC HOLOCAUST; not as thrashy as them, but as I get to this point of the album I can certainly hear the thrashier influence as Death Metal has that tone of course as well; this is evident in "Debauchery (The Sinners Hammer)" and so I end the album with "Blood Of The Damned" and "Urge To Retaliate" (recorded at "Cemetery Studios", July 2000) and "Infernal Tides" (recorded at "Jam Tin Studios", April 2005) and oh boy, the extremity is just perfect for us Black & Death Metal veterans.
So for veterans of ABOMINATOR, you might be wondering if this is worth owning as a hardcore fan? Yes, as from what I've discovered; this is a new record deal with "Nuclear War Now! Productions", new demos, bonus tracks from 2000 - 2005 Studio Sessions, all the original artwork but also an updated and improved layout that includes the original cover art from both demo cassettes, rare band photos and lyrics to all the songs; also updated sound production which, really lived up to the hype on this claim.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Barbarian War Worship" Track-listing:
1. Intro/War Worship
2. Hordes Of Impurity
3. The Darkest Sabbat
4. Black Nuclear Mists (Holocaustic Swarm)
5. Sepulchral Vomit
6. The Filthy Spirit Antichrist / Outro
7. The Conqueror Possessed
8. Damnations Prophecy
9. A Luciferian Path To Destruction
10. Debauchery (The Sinners Hammer)
11. Blood Of The Damned
12. Urge To Retaliate
13. Infernal Tides
Abominator Lineup:
Andrew Undertaker - Guitars
Chris Volcano - Drums, Vocals
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