Picture this, a serpentine titan that slithers slowly, methodically beneath the earthen floor, bidding its time as it coils around unknown caverns, patiently waiting for the moment in which its presence would be revered and worshipped either out of fear or contempt, while a prophet above preaches sermons of warning with a tongue tinged of fear to a congregation with minds obscured by mist...this is how i would describe Greek Gothic Metal outfit, I ABYSSICK debut album, "Ashes Enthroned"

I ABYSSICK, brings with it a cult like spirit to the album as one of the standout is first and foremost the atmosphere, if it wasn't clear from the introduction alone. All elements here work in cohesion like the ingredients which stokes the flame of a cauldron to create a blackened omen, "Upon A Throne Of Ruins" showcases this with the churning of the slow droning guitars and the ritualistic percussions exhaling a tune that is enough to transfigure smoke and flame from a funeral pyre into the shape of a wraith. Now before you roll your eyes and think, " what the f...", what is meant by this is the mood that dispelled by the band, the instrumentation here while displaying musical prowess in its the shifting progression of chords and percussive elements, it is done with the aim to feed the spirit that is conjured from the ceremonial tones expelled. "In A Land of Ash and Debris", is another track which fosters that occult like undertone as the song itself feels like a spell being invoked upon a weak willed mind as it slowly takes a hold creeping and devouring the mental essence, this image is crafted by the slow pulsating drums coupled with the hypnotic riffing.

If the instruments acted as the fumes that is dispelled from an offering, the voice upon the album would be the chants that commands the altar as the unholy precession takes form.  Think of a mixture amongst the late Warrel Dane, Matt Barlow and Johan Längqvist , the fusion of these beings is what you hear on "Ashes Enthroned" as it is channelled into one entity. "Into the Great Unknown", exemplifies this description, also what is appreciated is that even though the musical portions display moments of doom-like elements, slowly meandering, the vocals also follow along this intricate path, where at times it can sound like a prophecy that is being read to us the listener, as well as sometimes the same voice can also morph into one that gives a warning of a great terror, like the track, "Epiphany".

Overall, this is a fantastic album that is teeming with a myriad of shades of doom woven intricately with gothic like tones within. At times it feels like trying to decipher passages from an ancient book that is not meant for human eyes but can only be experienced by the vibrations of the sound emanating forth. For a debut album, this is quite excellent and one that I would recommend to all Metal enthusiasts.