Into the misty voids we go with TOTENGOTT! Where mysterious voices chant from all around the gray, and there is no guide to be found save for the sparse drums that set the pace for the long journey to the center of this foggy unknown. Untold and unseen horrors await us in the mists in TOTENGOTT's sophomore album "The Abyss". Originally playing as a CELTIC FROST cover band, TOTENGOTT began writing and playing their own material for their self-titled demo in 2016. Unique in their ability to play both aggressive and atmospheric sides of the Black Metal coin, "The Abyss" is a fight for survival in a stark wasteland.

"Ceremony I: Sic Transit Gloria Mundi" is an arduous trek through blazing sandstorm ravaged deserts, replete with ancient chants courtesy of backing vocalist Nacho Void being shouted into the black night sky over a raging bonfire and Doomy riffs. Whatever is being called from some terrible, unearthly dimension arrives in "Ceremony II: The Way of Sin" with Thrash chugging riffs and a furious Chou Saavedra throttling the mic stand while he growls damned lyrics. Dreamy intros in "The Spell" hypnotize the listener into a calm trance before setting loose a beast made of throbbing bass chords and hatred.

The spell remains unbroken for over thirteen minutes. But darker horrors still lie patiently in wait for their next prey as heard in the epic, twenty-two-minute final track "Doppelganger II: The Abyss". With the deep rumble of distorted strings breaking the eerie silence is in and of itself is terrifying, TOTENGOTT keeps ramping up the tension until the towering beast of the Apocalypse finally shambles forth from its long slumber. TOTENGOTT shines a mere pinprick of light on the forbidden ceremonies that take place in the dead of night, and create whole unforgiving landscapes, ringing chasms of pitch blackness, and terrible beasts summoned for nefarious purposes.