TUBAL CAIN’s “Slime Abyss” offers a nostalgic nod to the proto-black metal era, blending old-school metal with a hint of atmospheric blackness. With its raw yet accessible sound, the album lands squarely in the territory of classic metal, straddling the line between traditional heavy metal and the more sinister elements of black metal without fully committing to either. It’s a revivalist piece, capturing the essence of an era where metal was on the cusp of something darker but hadn’t quite crossed over.

From the very start, “Slime Abyss” establishes its vintage aesthetic. The production is deliberately rough, mirroring the qualities of 80s metal, where rawness was a virtue, and every riff felt like a battle cry. It’s immediately clear that TUBAL CAIN is in love with that sound. But despite the throwback production, the music doesn't feel dated; it has a timeless quality that both modern listeners and die-hard metalheads will appreciate.

The album features some undeniably catchy, almost corny melodies that stick with you, even after the album ends. Tracks like "The Abyss Awaits" and "Tomb of Shadows" provide heavy, melodic riffs paired with high-pitched vocals that feel like they’re channelling the spirits of early black metal forebears. The melodies are simple, but in their simplicity, they hit hard, echoing the memorable hooks of bands like Venom or early Bathory, with that same driving energy that makes you want to shout along.

The blackened atmosphere here is subtle, never fully engulfing the album but adding a layer of darkness that hangs over everything. This isn’t extreme metal by today’s standards, but there’s a raw, primal energy that recalls the early days of the genre; before black metal fully emerged, when it was still an underground movement searching for its identity.

"Slime Abyss" is a reminder of what metal once was and what it could have been. It's unapologetically retro, but also, in its own way, ahead of its time. TUBAL CAIN knows how to craft earworm melodies and serve them with just the right amount of griminess. If you’re a fan of metal that doesn’t shy away from its roots, "Slime Abyss" is an album worth getting lost in.